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Forbidden Guard
Sophia
At first, no one could stop the all-consuming pain.
Not my brother. Not my daughter.
Not even the ghost of my future.
But now, there’s Tanner. His sweet nature, hero complex, and submissive soul breathed life into my hollow heart.
The only problem?
He’s the man my brother hates most.
He’s my bodyguard, and I’m his client. It should stay that way.
So why do I crave what’s so dangerously off-limits?
Tanner
No one sees the ruin behind her eyes.
The grief. The hunger. The flicker of a woman desperate to take back control.
I was told to keep my distance.
She’s my client. She’s his sister. She’s the last line I’m not supposed to cross.
But her brother is gone for weeks. And Sophia Romero?
She’s the forbidden fruit I would sell my soul for.
At first, no one could stop the all-consuming pain.
Not my brother. Not my daughter.
Not even the ghost of my future.
But now, there’s Tanner. His sweet nature, hero complex, and submissive soul breathed life into my hollow heart.
The only problem?
He’s the man my brother hates most.
He’s my bodyguard, and I’m his client. It should stay that way.
So why do I crave what’s so dangerously off-limits?
Tanner
No one sees the ruin behind her eyes.
The grief. The hunger. The flicker of a woman desperate to take back control.
I was told to keep my distance.
She’s my client. She’s his sister. She’s the last line I’m not supposed to cross.
But her brother is gone for weeks. And Sophia Romero?
She’s the forbidden fruit I would sell my soul for.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 17, 2025
1 person is currently reading
3 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 23, 2025
Sophia and Tanner’s story is here! This is book 3 in the Code RITE series. This story is emotional and raw but also full of suspense and hope. I really loved Sophia and Tanner together!
Sophia is drowning in guilt and grief. First her ex was st@lking her, and someone tried to unalive her, but her fiancé was killed instead. On top of all that her and her daughter Hope’s lives are still at risk. After a particularly bad day (and her running off other bodyguards) Tanner is sent to her house. Yes they clash but also have a connection and he believes he can help her.
She isn’t the only one who is struggling though and they bond. We start to see their relationship grow…oh and did I mention that her brother hates Tanner?
It’s not smooth sailing but we see them tackle some heavy topics including trauma and mental health. But there are also some funny and sweet moments too - Sophia is sassy and strong and I love how we see her start to find herself again. We get really good character growth from both of them!
Shout out to Roscoe being absolutely adorable!
✨What To Expect:
🥀Romantic Suspense
🔫Bodyguard MMC
🏎️Street Racer FMC
💋Single Mom
🔥Forced Proximity
❤️🔥Brother’s Rival
🚫Forbidden Vibes
💔Hurt/Comfort
❤️🩹Grief, Loss & Healing
🐾Roscoe
Sophia is drowning in guilt and grief. First her ex was st@lking her, and someone tried to unalive her, but her fiancé was killed instead. On top of all that her and her daughter Hope’s lives are still at risk. After a particularly bad day (and her running off other bodyguards) Tanner is sent to her house. Yes they clash but also have a connection and he believes he can help her.
She isn’t the only one who is struggling though and they bond. We start to see their relationship grow…oh and did I mention that her brother hates Tanner?
It’s not smooth sailing but we see them tackle some heavy topics including trauma and mental health. But there are also some funny and sweet moments too - Sophia is sassy and strong and I love how we see her start to find herself again. We get really good character growth from both of them!
Shout out to Roscoe being absolutely adorable!
✨What To Expect:
🥀Romantic Suspense
🔫Bodyguard MMC
🏎️Street Racer FMC
💋Single Mom
🔥Forced Proximity
❤️🔥Brother’s Rival
🚫Forbidden Vibes
💔Hurt/Comfort
❤️🩹Grief, Loss & Healing
🐾Roscoe
October 26, 2025
My sexual appetite was different with women. I don’t want to dominate women. I want them to dominate me. And I tend to give everything to my mistresses. My cock gets hard when I’m called “good boy” and “slut.” My blood roars when they demand things from me. I thrive in the lack of control.
💚💚💚💚💚
💚Racer FMC
💚Bodyguard
💚Mental Health Rep
💚Infertility Rep
💚Forced Proximity
💚D/s Dynamic
💚Single Mom
💚Brother's Rival
💚Hurt/Comfort
💚💚💚💚💚
If you're looking for an emotional ride, that also has some laughs, look no further than this! The depth of everything Renn Wells put into this is outstanding from the grief and mental health reps to infertility to a Domme being trained by her sub...
Tanner and Sophia are brought together after she continues to scare off every bodyguard her brother & the firm he works for send. The grief from having lost her fiance while also having a long term sta!ker is too much for her to handle. Enter Tanner as the latest bodyguard and his caretaker ways that won't allow him to allow her to suffer alone.
Tanner is the ultimate cinnamon roll wrapped in a tough package. He knows when to assert himself and when to submit. He is also battling a lot of demons after the ultimate betrayal from his ex-wife and former best friend. He is not too proud to go to therapy or take the necessary meds. He seeks the help he needs.
Together, both of their tragic stories will have you wanting to swaddle and protect them both from the world. But also together, his teaching her how to take control and be his Domme is HOT.
Along with her daughter, Hope, and his bestest doggo, Roscoe, their story is a beautiful one and definitely hard fought while dealing with everything in the background...even her overprotective brother. You will NOT be disappointed in this one at all!
Thank you for the ARC on this one, Renn!!
💚💚💚💚💚
💚Racer FMC
💚Bodyguard
💚Mental Health Rep
💚Infertility Rep
💚Forced Proximity
💚D/s Dynamic
💚Single Mom
💚Brother's Rival
💚Hurt/Comfort
💚💚💚💚💚
If you're looking for an emotional ride, that also has some laughs, look no further than this! The depth of everything Renn Wells put into this is outstanding from the grief and mental health reps to infertility to a Domme being trained by her sub...
Tanner and Sophia are brought together after she continues to scare off every bodyguard her brother & the firm he works for send. The grief from having lost her fiance while also having a long term sta!ker is too much for her to handle. Enter Tanner as the latest bodyguard and his caretaker ways that won't allow him to allow her to suffer alone.
Tanner is the ultimate cinnamon roll wrapped in a tough package. He knows when to assert himself and when to submit. He is also battling a lot of demons after the ultimate betrayal from his ex-wife and former best friend. He is not too proud to go to therapy or take the necessary meds. He seeks the help he needs.
Together, both of their tragic stories will have you wanting to swaddle and protect them both from the world. But also together, his teaching her how to take control and be his Domme is HOT.
Along with her daughter, Hope, and his bestest doggo, Roscoe, their story is a beautiful one and definitely hard fought while dealing with everything in the background...even her overprotective brother. You will NOT be disappointed in this one at all!
Thank you for the ARC on this one, Renn!!
January 11, 2026
The CODE R.I.T.E series has been such an easy, enjoyable read! I loved the racing background in the book. I haven’t read any books with a background of racing in it, and I definitely interested in reading more. 🏁🏎️ Towards the ending with Hope & Tanner was just the sweetest 💕How redemptive that is after infertility.
Will we see a book for Freddie and possibly Hannah?!
Will we see a book for Freddie and possibly Hannah?!
December 7, 2025
🛡 Hot Bodyguards, Badass Heroines, and My New Favorite Obsession ❤️🔥
Indie author Renn Wells reached out to me at the beginning of October to see if I wanted an early peek at "Forbidden Guard", the newest book in her "Code RITE" series. I said yes, fully expecting to read a single chapter before bed. Instead, I was dragged headfirst into a 48-hour reading vortex. I devoured "Forbidden Guard", immediately sprinted back to "Broken Guard", and then marathoned my way through "Wrecked Guard". These books didn’t just hook me - they staged a full-blown emotional abduction.
These romances have bite but still manage to be deeply tender. The heroines are everything I love in an FMC: sharp, independent, strong-willed, emotionally layered, and unapologetically themselves. And the men? Steady, intuitive, a little bruised in all the right ways, and absolutely the type to throw themselves between the ones they love and the dangers that threaten them. Every pairing in this series feels like two storms colliding back into balance.
There’s humor threaded through both the havoc and the peace. The banter was perfect and the emotional punches hit harder than expected. Some crept up on me and made my chest go a little achey. I laughed, I cried, and I yelled internally at more than one fictional man. My entire emotional bandwidth was basically hijacked.
Finishing this trilogy reminded me of the quintessential ’90s bodyguard classic starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner. Naturally, I had to rewatch it. There’s just something about ending a series steeped in “emotionally tortured man willing to take a bullet for his woman” energy and then diving straight into that movie. It felt like the perfect cinematic encore.
Indie author Renn Wells reached out to me at the beginning of October to see if I wanted an early peek at "Forbidden Guard", the newest book in her "Code RITE" series. I said yes, fully expecting to read a single chapter before bed. Instead, I was dragged headfirst into a 48-hour reading vortex. I devoured "Forbidden Guard", immediately sprinted back to "Broken Guard", and then marathoned my way through "Wrecked Guard". These books didn’t just hook me - they staged a full-blown emotional abduction.
These romances have bite but still manage to be deeply tender. The heroines are everything I love in an FMC: sharp, independent, strong-willed, emotionally layered, and unapologetically themselves. And the men? Steady, intuitive, a little bruised in all the right ways, and absolutely the type to throw themselves between the ones they love and the dangers that threaten them. Every pairing in this series feels like two storms colliding back into balance.
There’s humor threaded through both the havoc and the peace. The banter was perfect and the emotional punches hit harder than expected. Some crept up on me and made my chest go a little achey. I laughed, I cried, and I yelled internally at more than one fictional man. My entire emotional bandwidth was basically hijacked.
Finishing this trilogy reminded me of the quintessential ’90s bodyguard classic starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner. Naturally, I had to rewatch it. There’s just something about ending a series steeped in “emotionally tortured man willing to take a bullet for his woman” energy and then diving straight into that movie. It felt like the perfect cinematic encore.
October 22, 2025
This third book in the series did not disappoint. Sophia and Tanner’s story of two wounded hearts looking to heal grabbed my heart and didn’t let go.
What’s it about?
Sophia is broken by an all-consuming grief that is destroying her, and even her daughter and brother can’t seem to pull her out of it. Her body guard, Tanner, not only sees her pain, he sees her need to regain control and reclaim her life. Sophia’s heart starts to thaw with Tanner’s sweet, submissive attention, but as her temporary bodyguard and hated by her brother, any long term relationship is forbidden. As Tanner and Sophia begin to break the rules, will the danger that threatens her and their own wounded hearts be able to survive?
My Thoughts:
Sophia’s story of grief is relatable and realistic with the author showing the unpredictable and non-linear path its processing takes. This FMC has strength, sass and a need to find some control in a life that is spiraling. I love how she grows and processes her grief as Tanner teaches her how to become a Domme. Tanner’s character is wounded and his role as a submissive helps him deal with his own trauma. Watching him work through his mental health issues and open his heart while being a protector and taking care of Hope and her daughter made him an MC that I couldn’t resist.
With an interesting plot, spicy Domme/Sub scenes (including one with a creative use of jumper cables🔥), forced proximity and a hot bodyguard MC, this addition to the Code Rite series is not one to miss.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️
What’s it about?
Sophia is broken by an all-consuming grief that is destroying her, and even her daughter and brother can’t seem to pull her out of it. Her body guard, Tanner, not only sees her pain, he sees her need to regain control and reclaim her life. Sophia’s heart starts to thaw with Tanner’s sweet, submissive attention, but as her temporary bodyguard and hated by her brother, any long term relationship is forbidden. As Tanner and Sophia begin to break the rules, will the danger that threatens her and their own wounded hearts be able to survive?
My Thoughts:
Sophia’s story of grief is relatable and realistic with the author showing the unpredictable and non-linear path its processing takes. This FMC has strength, sass and a need to find some control in a life that is spiraling. I love how she grows and processes her grief as Tanner teaches her how to become a Domme. Tanner’s character is wounded and his role as a submissive helps him deal with his own trauma. Watching him work through his mental health issues and open his heart while being a protector and taking care of Hope and her daughter made him an MC that I couldn’t resist.
With an interesting plot, spicy Domme/Sub scenes (including one with a creative use of jumper cables🔥), forced proximity and a hot bodyguard MC, this addition to the Code Rite series is not one to miss.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️
November 2, 2025
𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐆𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝 is the 3rd book in the Code RITE series by Renn Wells, featuring a spicy and emotional bodyguard romance for Sophia and Tanner. Sophia has suffered more trauma and loss than anyone should, from an abusive ex to the horrible loss of her fiancé that left her mired in grief and guilt. This single mom didn’t have time to heal before danger looms again, thus Tanner steps in to protect them. He works with her brother at DiTello Security,, and while he and Julian are enemies, he sees Sophia and Haven in an entirely different light. Tanner has a great deal of emotional baggage that left a hole to fill himself. I was sucked in by the unique premise of the street racer and the bodyguard, as well as the suspense plot that twisted and turned in very intriguing ways! I loved Sophia, Tanner, and little Haven and their connections and sweet moments as they gradually became a family. I loved the DiTello team family and the banter they brought, as well as the camaraderie in the action scenes. Now for my personal hangup… I appreciated Sophia and Tanner’s obvious chemistry, but Tanner as a submissive did not work for me at all. Especially given his fertility issue, it would make more sense to me to give him that moment to have control of something, like he did for her. I guess that particular dynamic just doesn’t work for me. To each their own, though, for sure. The depth of the emotion in this story was fantastic. I was in tears by the end! I’ll definitely still read whatever comes next!
I received an ARC for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
I received an ARC for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
October 27, 2025
Forbidden Guard is the standalone book three in the interconnected series Code RITE. I found this to be a fun and enjoyable read. I felt so bad for Sophia in the start. She did not deserve the aggressively toxic ex that she had and of course he ends up stalking her! But that's where the sexy body guard comes in handy! (Where can I find one 🤣)
From the very first moment Tanner and Sophia met, you could feel the chemistry which I really like for real life romance. Of course there was still bumps in the road for them to figure out but I really liked how they handled them! The relationship was no where near toxic like her ex. Tanner also had problems that he was working through.
I really loved how the author handled mental health and grief throughout the book. It made the book feel more realistic and also made me relate to the book more.
The action kept me on the edge of my seat and when the ex finally comes into play is the peak of it! I really races through this book and I am going back to the first two now! A super fun, action packed quick read!
From the very first moment Tanner and Sophia met, you could feel the chemistry which I really like for real life romance. Of course there was still bumps in the road for them to figure out but I really liked how they handled them! The relationship was no where near toxic like her ex. Tanner also had problems that he was working through.
I really loved how the author handled mental health and grief throughout the book. It made the book feel more realistic and also made me relate to the book more.
The action kept me on the edge of my seat and when the ex finally comes into play is the peak of it! I really races through this book and I am going back to the first two now! A super fun, action packed quick read!
November 15, 2025
Another enjoyable read by Renn, I was lucky enough to get this as an ARC and I have loved all of Renn's books so far! This installment follows Tanner, who becomes the bodyguard of Sophia and her daughter Hope. Sophia's ex, Isaac is out to get his hands on Hope and take her for himself. I really like Tanner in this, even though its mainly Sophia and Hope's story, I like how we see the vulnerable side to him. Its not often you see characters in books that have therapy and as having therapy myself, its relatable.
I really liked how well Tanner and Julian work together. Julian is the big brother to Sophia and will always be looking out for her also. So much happens in this book and there are a few moments when Isaac is on the scene when it gets your heart beating to how things will play out.
A good read and I will keep a look out for more from Renn in the future! Although, I may just have to re-read this series again so far!
I really liked how well Tanner and Julian work together. Julian is the big brother to Sophia and will always be looking out for her also. So much happens in this book and there are a few moments when Isaac is on the scene when it gets your heart beating to how things will play out.
A good read and I will keep a look out for more from Renn in the future! Although, I may just have to re-read this series again so far!
October 18, 2025
prepare the tissues
You ever read a book that just emotionally wrecks you but in a good way. This… this is that type of book. It doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff. Grief, anxiety, depression. It’s faces those head on. And the communication… glorious. While not always easy, it’s happens. Even if it takes Tanner and Sophia a bit to actually get to the communication portion, it’s there. If you do read this I suggest making sure you have tissues nearby. Get ready to cry, laugh, gasp and fan yourself at times. I literally cannot look at a car lift the same. This is book 3 in an interconnected series and I think hands down this is my favorite story.
You ever read a book that just emotionally wrecks you but in a good way. This… this is that type of book. It doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff. Grief, anxiety, depression. It’s faces those head on. And the communication… glorious. While not always easy, it’s happens. Even if it takes Tanner and Sophia a bit to actually get to the communication portion, it’s there. If you do read this I suggest making sure you have tissues nearby. Get ready to cry, laugh, gasp and fan yourself at times. I literally cannot look at a car lift the same. This is book 3 in an interconnected series and I think hands down this is my favorite story.
December 13, 2025
Oh gosh this book.. Hush it all started with me reliving my delivery days, I was not ready for it. My mind is blowing right now. Shit!! I was not ready for what came after, and all the turns this book took. I am still reeling with all the emotions that were up in the air, and all the tense moments in the last 10% of the book. This book is hard, do read the trigger warnings. I loved the plot and I loved Tanner. The book devastated my little heart, but the best thing was that Sophia was healed. Roscoe and Hope were the sweetest. I don’t know how to convey exactly what all I am feeling, but I am feeling a lot about this book. Do give it a try.
October 17, 2025
This book is the 4th in the Code RITE series, but you don't have to have read any of the others to enjoy it. I love love loved it! The characters are excellent, the plot is thrilling, and the romance is spicy! I love how genuine all the characters are; they all have a backstory and depth. I devoured this book in one sitting; the plot was well-paced and went fast while not being rushed. Excellent contemporary thriller bodyguard romance!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews