Unguarded

Redford Ranch #2

by M.J. Hendrix, Ariel Hendrix

Her body is safe in my arms, but her heart might not be.

She’s more than a city girl. She’s a celebrity with fans … and stalkers.
I’m an ex-military cowboy from a small town that I’m content to never leave.
We should never have crossed paths. The same way I should never have been at Monroe Blue’s concert—never mind jumping onstage to save her.
When the singer shows up on my ranch with fear in her pretty blue eyes after another break-in at her LA mansion, I promise to be her temporary bodyguard.
Even with my special forces training, I have no defenses against the gorgeous singer who’s somehow making me feel things in the heart I buried after my mother’s death.
Private jets and penthouses weren’t made for cowboy boots.
As soon as she’s safe, I’ll be on the next flight back to Texas.
I might have been hired to protect her, but it’s my heart that was left unguarded.

This is book two in the Redford Ranch Series, but it can be read as a complete standalone. The best reader experience would be to start with book one, UNTAMED. Please check trigger warnings.

Genres: Westerns, Forced Proximity, Romantic Suspense, Cowboy Romance, Workplace Romance, Celebrity, Military Fiction

416 pages, Paperback

First published April 22, 2025

About the author

Mj also goes by Ariel. She's a native Texan who lives in Hawaii with her dreamy husband Justin and two kiddos.
She can't resist pairing a damaged heroine with a southern gentleman who manages to tear down her walls one brick at a time. The men in her books will open every door and carry every bag, just like Justin does.
She's eternally indebted to her writing, which rescued her from the darkest place she has ever been.
Her lifelong dream is to one day write all her books in a house by the sea, with a wine cellar that's never empty and her imaginary characters somehow becoming her real-life friends.

Reviews

[Julie Booklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This story hooked me in and did not let go. I was still thinking about this book the day after I finished it. Cash, our ex military, cowboy, who protects his family. Monroe, a famous singer, is in need of new protection after she is attacked on stage. She wants Cash, the one who saved her.

Both our characters are a little flawed, and this added to my attraction. I loved how Cash immediately went into protection mode, when she was in danger, and only continued because he could see she was scared. Then there is the suspense.

I cannot wait to come back to Redford Ranch.

Thank you to the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.

[MILAN · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 STARS
bodyguard romance
ex military cowboy
romantic suspense
age gap
forced proximity

Monroe is a famous singer who got attacked by a stalker on stage when cash saved her. From then on she has been looking for him to be her bodyguard for her tour or else she’s not doing it at all. Cash is a cowboy and owns a ranch and is very family oriented and says no at first but eventually agrees.


I read this book in one night. Every single book i have read from mj never misses. I love the redford ranch universe and all the characters. The tension and the buildup between cash and monroe was so good. I loved how both of their characters took time to fully show themselves to eachother. The suspense element of the book was such a great addition and added so much to the characters development. The way he calls her princess…. SWOON. I will be patiently waiting for the next book in this series.

[Hope Eden · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

Love love love love love!!!

[dinithi · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5!!!

i loved cash & monroe's story so much, and i had a blast being back on the redford ranch. i'm so happy it's officially out in the world!

this story was just as spicy and delicious as rosie & holden's, full of all the same forbidden goodness. the opposites attract, age-gap, forced proximity vibes were just amazing as they were in untamed. i think MJ really shines when writing these dynamics! and the bodyguard x pop princess aspect between cash & monroe was so fun!! 🤩

the buildup and tension between cash & monroe was done so well. i was on the edge of my seat waiting for them to let down their walls! cash was so reserved and guarded, i knew watching him let monroe in would be so special - and it was. monroe had a lot of trust issues, but cash was her perfect complement.

and outside of the romance, the suspense was so good. i forgot how much i loved a good romantic suspense!!

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review!

Bodyguard romance? SAY.NO.MORE. I loved this book as MJ does it again!

Monroe is broke my heart with her vulnerability, and I just wanted to give her a hug. She knows how to put a front on when around people, and knew not to let people get too close. She really came into her own, and become such a strong character. She was perfect for Cash.

Cash was great! He really embodied the bodyguard, not trying to fall for the girl but falls hard. I love the Redford brother so much, and Cash may be my top one.

These two were great together and helped each other grow, which I love to watch happen in books.

[Madison Breaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Monroe and Cash SO much! Monroe is a famous singer who was performing when a stalker tried to attack her on stage. Cash is ex military and intervened before she could get hurt and now she wants him to be her bodyguard while she goes on tour. Cash is a cowboy who doesn’t want to leave his family ranch but agrees to it because he can see how afraid Monroe is for her life. This book was a page turner from start to finish. I love a little suspense mixed in with a dangerous cowboy who will do anything to protect his girl 😏 At this point i will read anything MJ Hendrix writes because I am obsessed with this series so far!

[Leigh Goldian · Rating 5 out of 5]

MJ hits the nail on the head - again!

I’ve read every book MJ has written and this one might be my favorite so far!

I’m giving it five stars and this is why:

⭐️ - one star for readability - The story was so easy to read and really sucked me in! I finished it in about two days even while working a full-time job and planning a wedding!

⭐️ - one star for emotional reaction - WOW! I cried, I laughed, I scoffed… what didn’t I do? The way MJ wrote this made me really feel what the characters felt!

⭐️ - one star for the characters - The character development was fantastic! At first I was mildly interested in them but by the end I either wanted to be best friends with Monroe or just BE Monroe 😅

⭐️ - one star for recommending - I would absolutely recommend this to others! Even if you’re not a cowboy romance fan, I still think you’ll like it, and most of the book doesn’t even focus on that!

⭐️ - one star for the plot - the twist at the end really got me! I was shocked and stunned and sad and that’s all I’ll say so I don’t give spoilers. Just read the book!!

All in all, 5 out of 5 stars. Go MJ!

[Shae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Monroe and Cash so much. Both are a little broken at the beginning but they both are just what the other needs. I love the connection Monroe had with Cash installing knowing he was just what she needed to be safe while touring. I love how he would do anything to protect her the second he needed to without hesitation even from the beginning! I literally never wanted this book to end.

[Ellen Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love!!

Was so excited to read Unguarded and it didn’t let me down. Can’t wait to read about the rest of the Redford family!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
If you want a book with the same vibes at The Bodyguard with Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, this is the one

[MEL GORDON · Rating 4 out of 5]

We all know I’m an absolute slut for a bodyguard romance, add in the fact he’s also a cowboy?? I’m done for.

[Carly · Rating 3 out of 5]

idk why i thought this one was gonna be better but spoiler alert it was not

[Sarah Masters · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmmm not as good as the first. Seemed like the author had a lot of ideas, threw them in a bag, mixed it up and then splattered them on the book.

[_kenzie_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

*arc review!! release date 4/22❤️

3/5🌶️
•opposites attract
•forced proximity
•bodyguard romance
•ex-military cowboy
•famous country singer
•age gap
•touch her & i hurt you
•found family
•suspense

🎤“Are you turned on right now?”
🤠“I’ve been turned on since the day we met.”

MJ does it again. i remember when i first read her debut novel and immediately fell in love with her writing. i’ve loved seeing her grow over the years, every story of hers just gets better & better.

the Redford brothers are to die for honestly. i’m in love with them. Cash and Monroe’s story was everything to me. their chemistry, their love, the tension…it all bled through the pages & made my heart swoon. i’m obsessed with them to say the least. they were everything eachother needed.

Monroe Blue: our country singer💙 i saw myself relating to her a lot. when she said “No one wants the broken, lonely little girl who was abandoned by her dad” my heart broke into pieces. that’s the most relatable thing i’ve ever read about. it truly goes to show you never know what anyone is feeling or going through behind closed doors. Monroe was amazing at putting up a front when she performed in so many different countries & cities but in reality, my girl was lonely. she had major abandonment issues so that made it difficult to open up her heart. so it was especially hard for her when she found someone she was down bad for but the complete opposite of her. because they both wanted different things. but they met in the middle and their love was beautiful, strong and bright. Cash was everything Monroe needed. he made her feel safe, protected, loved and seen.

“Every single clip of Monroe and her bodyguard has me panting and sweating.”
^^^ same🧎🏻‍♀️🧎🏻‍♀️

Cash Redford: hot damn country boy🐂 he hasn’t loved a woman since his mom died, being too scared to open his heart & lose someone he loves, again. but he fell hard, fast and fiercely & watching it was beautiful to see. just like Monroe, he was closed off with a huge barricade around his heart. and it took a lot to break that damn thing down, but it happened and i loved every second of it. watching him fight his feelings made me giggle because you could tell just how much Monroe had embedded herself into his heart. the first time they met was literally from Cash protecting her from a crazy fan & that protectiveness never stopped. he believed in her and never left her side. and not mention he damn sure knows how to make a good gesture…him presenting her that award at the CMAs..he really knows his way with words because please 🥹🥹 my heart couldn’t handle. Monroe was everything Cash didn’t know he needed, she opened up a part of him that had been buried for a long time.

fav quotes🤠🎤🐂🐎

“She’s the most irresistible woman I’ve ever laid eyes on”

“Now, I have to decide if I’m going to leave her exposed with a shitty security team or stay on the job and risk becoming just as obsessed with her as the rest of the world while fending them off every night.”

“I’m crushing on him so hard. I feel like I’m in junior high and first discovering what it feels like to be noticed by a boy”

🎤“Why are you here”
🤠“I heard you might need me. I’m here because I couldn’t stay away.”

“I’m Team Blue, always”

“Before I open this envelope, I’ve got something important I need to say to one of the nominees—-I need you to know that this isn’t even a fraction of how far I’m willing to go to be everything you need and want. I’ve seen you at your worst, and I’ve witnessed you at your best. I want them both. I want the hidden side of you that this crowd will never see. There isn’t a corner on this planet that I wouldn’t go for you. And as much as I love my little slice of Texas that I’ve always called home … it feels as empty as a fallen, hollow tree without you there. If you’ll have me, Miss Monroe Blue, I’d very much like to take you out on a real date sometime, not as your bodyguard, but as your boyfriend.”
^^^LET ME SOB

“And you look like a damn vision of heaven in that dress”

“You were so unexpected. When you came into my life, I was wandering. I didn’t even know I needed you until I found you.”

[paris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spicy level: 3.5/5
- Ex-military
- Age gap
- Forced proximity
- Cowboy MMC x Singer FMC
- Bodyguard Romance
- Opposites Attract

*ARC review*
Unguarded is book two in the Redford Ranch series by M.J. Hendrix and will be released April 22nd. In Unguarded, you will read about Cash and Monroe’s story, leaving you on the edge of your seat and turning the page for more.

If you haven’t read book one in the Redford Ranch series, I recommend you do because once you get a taste of the Redford brothers, you'll want more. They will go to great lengths for their family, especially for their women, and they are incredibly attractive while doing it. 😉

Monroe Blue is a famous country singer who rose from humble beginnings and struggles with severe trust issues due to her rocky past. When her stalker breaks into her apartment in Los Angeles, she decides to seek help from the only person she feels can truly protect her: Cash Redford.

Cash Redford is an ex-military cowboy who lives on his family ranch in Texas, and he is content never to leave. He doesn't express his thoughts openly, and he often broods quietly to himself. Since his mother's death, he hasn't loved a woman, and he is too afraid to open his heart to love again. Cash's life takes an unexpected turn when he meets the famous country singer Monroe Blue. While attending one of her concerts with his sister, Monroe is attacked by an obsessed fan. Cash's protective instincts kick in as he realizes her bodyguards aren't reaching her quickly enough. The moment he saves her lingers in his mind for the entire year that follows. To his surprise, a year later, Monroe shows up at his family ranch, asking him to be her bodyguard for her upcoming tour—a role he is hesitant to accept.

I loved reading this book, and I genuinely couldn’t put it down (I knew I would since I'm obsessed with all of M.J.’s books). The yearning, tension, and chemistry between the characters were perfect. The plot had me on the edge of my seat the entire time as I was reading and trying to figure out who the stalker could be. At times, you’ll die wanting the characters to just confess their feelings for each other, and when they do, the timing is perfect.

Favorite Quotes:

“Cash Redford is the only man alive I trust to protect me.”

“I’ve thought about those bright blue eyes in the last year more times than I’d ever admit.”

“Why are you here? I didn’t ask you to come back.”
“I heard you might need me. I’m here because I couldn’t stay away.”

“The problem is, I’m way more invested in her than I ever planned to be.”

“You’re a madman.”
“Only when it comes to you, Princess.”

[Alissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 ⭐️
I was so conflicted on whether I wanted to read this book because I wasn’t a huge fan of the first one but then I saw that it had higher ratings than the first and against my better judgment I did. I felt the word choice/verbiage this author uses is incredibly predictable and not in a funny haha way more like a cringe and WHY kinda way which had me wanting to DNF it multiple times.

I also felt like this book had too much information and yet not enough. I constantly was trying to figure out where we were going with the stalking situation. I normally like to try to piece together the mystery and figure it out on my own but there was practically zero context clues (besides her best friends sister making sourdough) to figure out what was going on. It was basically BAM this is who it was and why it happened all towards the end. It was like a mask behind a mask behind a mask I was just slightly underwhelmed cause I thought it was kinda out of left field (but hey that’s just me). The stalker had dirt on her ex and he uses her best friend to get back at her?? Also she has a whole ass security team around her and they just allowed the “janitor” into her room while she was sleeping and nothing even happened?! He just left?? And I get it fight or flight is a real thing. But you’re gonna sit there and tell me she’s been working with a training taking self defense classes since her first attack and not a single one of those instincts kicked in when he shows up?? Then what was even the point to add that into the storyline.

She also talks about how everyone leaves her and that her mother is super inconsistent and hardly talks to her but at the very end of the book her mom shows up to the CMAs to support her?? When all she did was constantly talk about her mother hating her for having a larger spot light. Then when Cash makes his big love declaration on stage all of a sudden her mom is so happy and proud of her???

I really liked the whole bodyguard pop star trope but I had a hard time just reading it for the vibes. My mind kept asking too many questions along the way. The foundation is good but the filling could use some work. I will say that every time I thought about dropping this authors books they always managed to pull me back. So kudos to that. The only way I’ll read the next book is if it’s Dolly’s story. But even then I may regret it.

[mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc read!🩵🍓💌RELEASE DATE: 22/04/25

Monroe Blue is a country singer who becomes something from nothing. she has trust issues due to past relationships cheating on her. the only person she trusts to protect her is cash redford.

Cash Redford is a ex military rancher working with his family at there ranch, Redford Ranch. He loves living at the ranch and has no plans to leave. He Doesn’t want to open his heart again because he hasn’t loved another woman since his mother passed away.

One night cash and his family go out to watch Monroe perform , when a crazed fan jumps on stage and starts attacking her , cash saves her and is ultimately taken to jail due to his family’s reputation. His name is cleared and they both go back to their life’s.

Monroe wanted Cash to be her on security detail for a year, he ignored all offers until Monroe turned up at the ranch, before he finally relented and agreed.
cash thinks monroe is gorgeous but he can’t find himself distracted from the job.

I loved this book. It was so good. Cash was so protective and i know that was his job but HOLY HELL he was hot doing it. Cash is such a southern gentlemen, getting the car door for her, carrying her bags and looks away when she ultimately flashed him.
Cash always gives Monroe his hoodie which is just so swoon worthy.
Highly recommend, the first book in the series is incredible too and i will be reading MJ’s backlog >>>.

also the TWIST IN THIS BOOK. my jaw dropped

fav quotes
.”southern gentlemen are something else”
.”i’m about two seconds away from busting through every moral conviction and professional boundary i’ve ever had- is that what you want ?”
.”cash redford is the only man alive i trust to protect me”
.”i’ve thought about those bright blue eyes in the last year more times than i can count”
.”why are you here? i didn’t ask you to come back”. “ i’m here because i couldn’t stay away”
.”your a madman”
“only when it comes to you princess”
.”your not a problem stop talking like you are”

HAPPY READING!!

[Miriam Puim Roque · Rating 5 out of 5]

*this book was kindly sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review*

“Unguarded” is book two in the “Redford Ranch” series by M.J. Hendrix and let me tell you, her books keep getting better and better and better and better. I’m so happy to be back in my cowboy era!

If you read the first book in this series, you’ll recognize our main characters, Monroe and Cash, and if not: WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

Monroe is a country singer who rose to fame from nothing. She’s been cheated on, her trust has been betrayed time and time again and, on top of everything she’s already been through, she’s being stalked. That’s why there’s no way in hell she’s going on a world tour without a bodyguard who can do his job right and she KNOWS IN HER HEART that the only person capable of protecting her is Cash Redford, the ex-military cowboy that’s been on her mind since he attended one of her concerts and saved her from being attacked by an obsessed fan. Cash initially rejects Monroe’s offer but, after seeing the fear in her eyes, he decides to accept it and his life is turned upside-down.

This always happens to me when I read one of MJ’s books: I can’t put it down.

I was so excited for this one to come out, you have no idea! We see Cash’s protective instincts kick in in the first book, we fall in love with him right at that moment, we hope for more AND THEN WE FIND OUT WE’RE HAVING A WHOLE BOOK ABOUT HIM AND MONROE!

The plot had me on the edge of my seat, turning the pages like a mad woman until 3AM. Their chemistry is unmatched, the slow burn is perfection (don’t get me wrong – I was yelling at them to just confess their feelings for each other, but I love a good slow burn hahah) but I especially love how both of them fixed something in one another they didn’t break. This book was EVERYTHING! I vote Cash for the PERFECT MMC. Period. Who else wants to move to Redford Ranch?

Thank you always M. J. Hendrix for the opportunity! 💙

[DeAnna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️

Tropes
Ex military cowboy
Bodyguard x Pop star
Suspense / she has a stalker
Found family

I really wanted to love this, since I really liked Untamed, but it fell short for me and I had some of the same issues with this book that I had with Untamed.
- I didn’t care for Monroe for the first half of the book. She was overly bratty, a little annoying, and made stupid choices because she was in her feelings that put her at risk. In any other situation it wouldn’t have been that big of a deal, but Cash was literally there for the sole purpose of protecting her. I hate when the FMC needs a bodyguard/protecting, but she decides to sneak away and put herself at risk, and uses the excuse “I just need to get away/I feel like I’m trapped/etc”
- Cash was pissing me off at times. How did you, her bodyguard, leave her alone/without you twice allowing her stalker to get to her each time smh
- I didn’t realize it until I found myself flipping back through pages thinking I had skipped pages, but this is definitely insta lust and insta love. I didn’t feel any real romantic emotional connection between them. It was all physical. There weren’t any really sweet swoony quotes that were memorable either
- the suspense plot wrapped rather quickly, and I was hoping for more of an explanation about everything
- I wanted more from the “love declaration”

Other than those things..
The spice was spicing, Cash was giving all the grumpy, protective, touch her and die, cowboy vibes. It was nice to see that his family took Monroe in so quickly and easily. The suspense plot was interesting, and was the main reason I kept reading it. I had an idea of who was behind it, but I was wrong lol and very surprised by who was actually behind it. Overall it it was a pretty decent read.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unguarded by @mjhendrixauthor

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thank you so much for the arc opportunity @mjhendrix. Please can I move to the Redford Ranch?

My first question is how exactly do I get a bodyguard like Cash Redford? Because I feel like I need him in my life!!! He the man dreams are made of - kind and thoughtful whilst also ready to throat punch someone who makes you uncomfortable and gets too close!! Oh and he is a cowboy and rides bulls too - maybe the perfect MMC? I liked Cash from the very beginning of this book and loved him by the end.

The angst and the slow burn in this book is so good. It’s torturous, both Cash and Monroe the FMC are feeling it, both are trying their best to ignore their feelings for each other, but it just is not working. But they try so hard, and you can bet the fuck it moment is brilliant, actually they have several which makes it all the better.

There is an amazing sense of found family within this book, and it’s not all perfect. Sometimes that found family screws you over, and @mjhendrix does an amazing job of showing that but also that ultimately there are good people in this world who do care for you, will look after you when you need it, and that all you need is the right bodyguard.

I am already looking forward to the third book in the series!!!! There are interconnected, stand alone stories so if you haven’t read book one, you don’t need to but I highly recommend grabbing Untamed and then moving straight onto Unguarded.

[Kelly Hyman · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

“I heard you might need me. I’m here because I couldn’t stay away.”

Y’ALL. I just finished Unguarded by MJ Hendrix and I am absolutely feral over this book. This is the second installment in the Redford Ranch series, and if you thought book one brought the heat—just wait until you meet Cash Redford.

We’re talking big, brooding, bull-riding cowboy with a soft heart and a protect-at-all-costs energy that had me swooning from page one. And then there’s Monroe Blue, the fierce, talented music star who’s got her own walls sky-high—but Cash? Oh, he’s the wrecking ball.

The setup? A year ago, Cash saves Monroe’s life. One unforgettable moment. One look. One connection that neither of them has been able to shake. Fast forward to now, Monroe’s gearing up for her tour and hires Cash—yes, the same man—as her bodyguard. Cue ALL the tension.

You know that trope where they’re like, “We can’t. It’s unprofessional.” And then it’s just them in a hotel room, eyes lingering too long, brushing shoulders in the hallway, her heart racing when she catches him watching her? Yeah. That’s this book. And I ate. it. up.

What I loved most? Cash isn’t just muscle. He’s thoughtful, protective, and has this quiet intensity that makes every one of his scenes feel electric. And when things start to go sideways—because oh yes, there are some thriller-y twists—he is right there, never letting Monroe face it alone. Swoon city, population: me.

Monroe’s journey from guarded to giving in to her feelings felt real and raw. Watching her realize that this “bodyguard” might just be her person? Pure gold.

Also, let’s talk about the suspense! MJ Hendrix slipped in just enough mystery to keep me flipping pages way past bedtime. I had theories. I was wrong. I gasped. 10/10 would read again.

“I wasn’t hired to fall for her. But I’d burn down the world to keep her safe.”

“He looked at me like I was his world. Like I’d never been seen before.

[Bookmom1213 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Monroe is a high profile singer. She is a city girl, lives in the limelight and has paparazzi following her everywhere she goes. Even with her celebrity status there are ups and downs. She has adoring fans but she also has a stalker.
Cash is the total opposite. He is from the country and would rather hide in the corner than to bring attention to himself. He is ex military cowboy who is happy being left alone and staying home.
The first time Cash saw Monroe it was at her concert protecting his sister and her friend. He didn’t want to be there but when a man jumped the stage to get to Monroe Cash jumped on the stage to save her from the man that tried to attack her
Now Monroe is set to start a world tour and she will only go if Cash was her bodyguard. He kept turning down the offer until she showed up at his ranch asking him personally. He told her no until she got a text stating that there was a break in at her mansion and he saw the fear in her eyes. He agreed to be her bodyguard but only on a temporary terms and when she was safe he would return to the ranch. What he didn’t expect was feeling things he thought he buried with his mom’s death.
Omg. Cash!! What can I saw he has my heart. Monroe, I felt her loneliness to the depths of my soul. Even in a full room I feel very lonely. I don’t know how MJ keeps doing it but each book is better than the last.

[Lourdes | Lu and her books ♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review
⭐5/5
🌶️3/5
📌Check TW

Did I avoid all my responsibilities and devoured this book in a day? Yes, I did.
Do I regret it? No, I don’t.

Unguarded is the second book in the Redford Ranch series, but it can be read as a standalone.
The story follows Monroe, a country music star and Cash, her bodyguard who's closed off and refuses to ever become emotionally involved with anyone.

This is the first book I’ve ever read where the FMC is a celebrity, and I had a great time reading it! Also, the way the forbidden love trope was mixed with the bodyguard x music star trope made it even better!

I felt bad for Monroe, she had no one by her side, she was a lost soul and not quite as confident as the facade she portrayed. Her trust was shattered by the people closest to her, and that hurt a lot.

I loved Cash’s character development as he began to open up more and more with Monroe and finally accepted that he was crazy in love. Their meeting was a serendipitous moment, they were meant to cross paths and be together.

The tension, the pining and the chemistry between these two were soooo good and very well written! The way they both wanted one another since the beginning. I was melting! 100% recommended!

Thank you to MJ y for the opportunity to review an advanced copy of this great book!

[Katy Burch · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC Review

Monroe Blue is a famous country singer who hasn’t felt safe since someone from the crowd attacked her while she was on stage in Texas. The people paid to keep her safe failed, but one man in the crowd managed to dive onstage to protect her, and now he’s been hired to be her bodyguard on an international tour. Cash Redford is an ex-military cowboy hell-bent on protecting this girl who doesn’t seem to know peace.

Although I’ve read and loved other books by MJ Hendrix, I didn’t read the first book in the Redford Ranch series because it was enemies-to-lovers, which I never enjoy. I went into this book hopeful because the premise sounded fun, but I was thoroughly disappointed. Had this not been an ARC, I would have DNFd around the halfway point. It was insta-lust and insta-love. The only chemistry was sexual; everything else felt incredibly forced.

I’m more than willing to suspend my belief for a fun story, but the inner workings of the music industry/touring felt unrealistic, like the author failed to properly research (just my opinion considering I know nothing about it either). The stalker storyline was indeed interesting, but the ending was unnecessarily convoluted without a proper explanation.

Some people will definitely enjoy this, but it just wasn’t for me. If you like dark romance, it may be more your speed.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

ɪ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏᴏ.” ɪ ʟᴇᴀɴ ɪɴ, ᴘʀᴇꜱꜱɪɴɢ ᴍʏ ꜰᴏʀᴇʜᴇᴀᴅ ᴀɢᴀɪɴꜱᴛ ʜᴇʀꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ɪɴʜᴀʟɪɴɢ ᴅᴇᴇᴘʟʏ. “ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴡʜᴏʟᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ, ɪ ʜᴀᴅ ɴᴏ ɪᴅᴇᴀ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴇxᴀᴄᴛʟʏ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴍɪꜱꜱɪɴɢ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴍʏ ʟɪꜰᴇ.” ꜱʜᴇ ʜᴜᴍꜱ, ꜱɪɢʜɪɴɢ ᴀꜱ ʜᴇʀ ʙᴏᴅʏ ʀᴇʟᴀxᴇꜱ ᴀɢᴀɪɴꜱᴛ ᴍᴇ. “ᴍʏ ᴇɴᴛɪʀᴇ ʟɪꜰᴇ, ɪ’ᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴛʀᴀᴠᴇʟɪɴɢ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴛʜɪꜱ ʙɪɢ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ, ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ʀɪɢʜᴛ ʜᴇʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡʜᴏʟᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ.” ꜱʜᴇ ɢɪɢɢʟᴇꜱ, ʀᴇᴀᴄʜɪɴɢ ʜᴇʀ ʜᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴜᴘ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱɪᴅᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴍʏ ꜰᴀᴄᴇ. “ʟᴜᴄᴋʏ ᴍᴇ.”

Monroe Blue is a famous country singer looking for a meaningful life after being on the road surrounded by people, yet all alone. One night at a show she’s attacked onstage by a crazed fan, and Cash jumped on stage to save her life.

A year later she tracks down Cash and is insistent on him being her bodyguard on her world tour. Cash reluctantly agrees. Monroe has a stalker and Cash will stop at nothing to keep Monroe safe.

Monroe ends up with a whole new family that doesn’t just want her for her money or status. Secrets are uncovered and the people she thought she could count on, betrayed her. But in the end she knows who her real family is. Being with Cash and the family at Redford Ranch.

I am a sucker for cowboy romance (duh!) and I loved this one. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!!!

[Sara Rodríguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Cash and Monroe's story so much, they way they're so emotionally closed off to everyone but they tear each other's walls, their instant chemistry was good but it wasn't enough for them to cave in so we get to see their journey into falling for each other and finally finding someone to trust and open up with was just gorgeous❤️.

It was kind of sad seeing Blue feeling so lonely because everyone around her always expected or wanted something from her instead of just wanting to be with her for who she really is, but the way she found a family and true friends with the Redfords and how they all were willing to do anything for her (including Sam, which I hope next one is his and Dolly's story 🤞🏼) without anything in return and seeing Blue finally having that warmed my heart🥹.

My favorite part was seeing their journey into falling for each other and then accepting and showing it to each other, as someone who also struggles with showing their emotions to other people, it was such beautiful way to see them grow in each other's heart and slowly opening and working through their issues together was beautiful✨️.

[Dani Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unguarded by M.J Hendrix is the second book in the Redford Ranch. Cash and Monroe’s story is one with suspense and longing that keeps you on your toes the entire time.

Cash, is a cowboy to his core. Bull rider, cowboy, and ex-special forces that keeps his heart guarded and the ones he loves close to him. That is until he is at a concert with his sister and future SIL, when the singer Monroe Blue is attacked on stage and being the protector he is, he jumps in and saves her. Little did he know that he would be hung up on from that very moment.

Monroe Blue is a music sensation but when her life is threatened by a stalker, she can only think of one man who can save her. It replays in her mind the night that Cash jumped on stage without a second thought.

Throughout this book, you question who the stalker is. You also want to scream at both of them to just confess their feelings. But when they do, ugh it’s just perfect.

[Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️4 | 🌶️2

MJ Hendrix has done it again, and this second book. She’s serving us another dose of cowboy this time with a little ex-special forces turned bodyguard twist.

We’re following Cowboy Cash with all his brooding muscle and honour-bound protection, and Monroe the sultry, spotlight-stealing singer with a target on her back. It’s your classic bodyguard/pop star setup, but make it moody, tense, and dripping in sexual tension you could cut with a knife.

Oh, and let’s not forget the deranged stalker situation simmering in the background. The suspense had more twists than a pretzel in a tornado. One minute I thought I had it sussed, the next I was flipping pages like my life depended on it.

It’s got all the “will they, won’t they?”, slow burns, steamy moments, and a healthy dose of sass. If you love your romance with a bit of danger and a leading man who knows how to handle things (if you catch my drift), then Cash is about to be your next obsession.

[Kimberly Blackburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cash Redford stops an attack on Monroe Blue while she is on stage. One year later, she is on the verge of a world tour and looking for Cash to be her bodyguard. Cash is hesitant, not wanting to leave his family’s farm, however the two of them agree to a one month trial.

Cash is there to protect her as the tour starts. Someone is threatening Monroe and leaving suspicious gifts. Then the media sees photos of Cash and Monroe together and assume they are a couple. After the tension and unresolved feelings, Cash heads back to Texas while Monroe continues the tour. There are a few twists and turns after that before the ending.

This story has a little bit of everything: romance, a mysterious stalker, hot bodyguard, and traveling around the world. I loved how the two of them were hesitant to admit feelings but they continue to be there for each other. It was a great story and definitely worth reading.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m obsessed with MJs books. She has yet to make a book that I haven’t loved, her characters are just so fun and easy to love! This book, obviously was no exception. We have Cash, who is an ex military family oriented cowboy and Monroe, a famous singer from out of town. When Monroe is saved by Cash after being attacked on stage, she decides she wants him to be her personal bodyguard…

The forced proximity, forbidden, age gap, opposites attract was just a delicious combo that had me needing to turn the page to see what was gonna happen. There’s nothing I love more than seeing a reserved and guarded man slowly lower his guard for his lady.

So excited for more Redford Ranch!!!!

“You were so unexpected. When you came into my life, I was wandering. I didn’t even know I needed you until I found you”