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Front and Center #4

Protector for Hire

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Keeping her safe is crucial. Guarding his heart is impossible.

Haunted by his time in Iraq, former soldier Schwartz Patton goes off the grid, retreating deep into Montana’s untamed wilderness. Now, ten years into his self-imposed solitude, his brother tracks him down and asks for a favor. A woman is in danger, and she needs help...and Schwartz is the only one who can protect her.

Designer-loving city girls like Janelle Keebler don't belong in the wilderness. Unless, of course, they're witnesses to a murder by their psycho drug-trafficking ex-husbands. Still, Janelle can't help the immediate physical response she has to her sexy-as-sin protector that leaves her wanting more than she could have ever imagined. Even if he does make terrible coffee...

Every word, every touch, every kiss ignites a need Schwartz thought he’d lost forever. He can't stop the desperate attraction simmering between him and Janelle, even if he wanted to. Even if it means it could get them both killed.

248 pages, Paperback

First published June 29, 2015

60 people are currently reading
1240 people want to read

About the author

Tawna Fenske

73 books1,616 followers
When Tawna Fenske finished her English lit degree at 22, she celebrated by filling a giant trash bag full of romance novels and dragging it everywhere until she’d read them all. Now she’s a RITA Award finalist, USA Today bestselling author who writes humorous fiction, risqué romance, and heartwarming love stories with a quirky twist. Publishers Weekly has praised Tawna’s offbeat romances with multiple starred reviews and noted, “There’s something wonderfully relaxing about being immersed in a story filled with over-the-top characters in undeniably relatable situations. Heartache and humor go hand in hand.”

Tawna lives in Bend, Oregon, with her husband, step-kids, and a menagerie of ill-behaved pets. She loves hiking, snowshoeing, standup paddleboarding, and inventing excuses to sip wine on her back porch. She can peel a banana with her toes and loses an average of twenty pairs of eyeglasses per year. To find out more about Tawna and her books, visit www.tawnafenske.com.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
Profile Image for ✦❋Arianna✦❋.
790 reviews2,554 followers
July 14, 2015
3.5 Stars!!

description

“Protector for Hire” is the forth book in Tawna Fenske’s “Front and Centre” series and like its predecessors can be read as a standalone.

Schwartz has spent almost a decade alone at his cabin in Montana wilderness. He’s a retired US Army soldier who has some issues from his last tour of duty in Irak. The only member of his family who speaks with him is his brother, Grant. Grant needs his help. His future sister-in-law needs protection from her heroine dealing ex-husband who wants her dead, so Schwartz has to hide her for a while. Janelle didn’t have any idea her future brother-in-law will be so cold and so...gorgeous. She figures out pretty quickly that behind his gruff exterior, Schwartz is a sweet, caring man and she wants to help him with his issues. Their chemistry between them is off the charts, but Schwartz has to remind himself why Janelle is there and Janelle can’t forget who is Schwartz.

This was a light, sexy and funny read and I really enjoyed it. I liked both Janelle and Schwartz. Janelle was funny and kind and I loved her rambling and how fast she adapted to the wilderness. Schwartz was likeable as well and despite his past there was no overwhelming drama like I expected. It was pretty funny to see him fight his feelings for Janelle. I enjoyed their interactions and their banter and I really enjoyed loved some scenes between them especially the scene where Schwartz is teaching Janelle how to split wood. The chemistry and sexual tension between them was well done and their sexy times very hot.

What I didn’t like too much was how fast their relationship progressed. Needless to say, the ending was a little OTT and felt too rushed IMO.

Overall, a good read!
Profile Image for Claire.
2,324 reviews738 followers
June 11, 2015
4 - "It's been a while." Stars!

The author, this book, the whole series… absolutely outstanding. The Patton family all in their own unique ways have been pretty easy to fall in love with, and Schwartz Patton, the elusive and up to this book pretty much unknown elder brother is no exception. I have been itching for his story for a while, and although Tawna has given her reader’s glimpses of him, and little titbits about him in the previous books, this story was an absolute joy to read, in that I got the complete, no-holds-barred, full HD Schwartz Patton, experience.

”I’m here to protect you, not fuck you.”

Blunt, solitary and lacking in people skills because of it, you just know that the verbal back and forth between, city-slicker Janelle and our reclusive mountain man was going to be laugh out loud funny, and down and deep dirty from the get go, and the author didn’t disappoint. The chemistry between them sparked early one and kept up a sexy and steady burn from then on.

”We’re avoiding dicks around here.”

I love this couple and the situations they managed to get themselves into as the book progressed. But for all the fun there was also a lot of emotion and poignancy as well, a family reuniting, a band of brothers coming back together, not matter what has happened in the past, with no care for the water that has flowed under the bridge.



As I said, I have for the most part loved this series, each Patton and the women/men they have ended up with have had some pretty funny and emotional adventures getting to their ’Happily Ever Afters’ but it was such an enjoyable ride, and I hope to see more from this author very, very soon.

”Don’t mess with family.”



ARC generously provided by Entangled, and it was my pleasure to provide the above honest review.
Profile Image for Ⓐlleskelle - That ranting lady ッ.
1,038 reviews957 followers
July 10, 2015
It is without any pretension that Tawna Fenske accomplished an awesome job at putting a huge smile on my face for a few hours. Second time reading this author and I can say it won’t be the last.



What made me pick this book this week? I have no idea. But it came after 2 fantastic reads I had earlier this week end and I was afraid for the book that would follow their wake… Usually after an awesome read, the next one tastes a little dull for me. I know some readers still ride the feel good vibe from their previous good reads, but that’s not the case for me. I tend to compare my current read against the emotions the previous one made me feel.
I know. Not fair.

Anyway, I’m glad to report that “Protector for Hire” delivered with splendor all I love in a book. Good chuckles and great vibes.

I loved this sexy and light story about a retired army guy landing an eccentric city girl. His job? To protect Janelle from her crazy stalking and drug trafficker ex-husband.

The hero of the book Schwartz, has spent the last 8 years recluse by his own will in a lost in the woods’ cabin with a mixed dog/wolf as his sole company… Retired US Army soldier, from an all Marines family, he accepts to help his brother’ sister in law the time for the police and special investigators to catch Janelle’s ex-husband.

Janelle is a city girl. She’s a successful graphic designer with a crazy streak. She’s a spontaneous and a lovable woman, and soon is going to put the coldest, private, gorgeous man she’s ever met down his knees.



The chemistry between them was instant, their banter got some real out loud laughter from me, keeping me hooked and dying to witness the hero fall for this charming heroine. The sexy times were the kind mixing agreeably humor and steam.



The story is told in a dual POV and I loved Janelle crazy rambling as much as Schwartz confused and distracted thoughts. The contrast was hilarious! Schwartz kept trying to stay in check and not touch her but his body had obviously other ideas... And Janelle? Janelle had no troubles going for what she wants!



I was surprised by how fast I finished the book, the writing really was compelling and the well defined characters made it impossible NOT to feel connected with. The author did a great job introducing some secondary characters that I presume had their books earlier in this series, which made me want to read their story. A special mention for the bromance between Schwartz and his stray dog, Sherman. I loved how the dog almost stole the show and I must say I fell in love with him a little too.

Protector for Hire is part of series but can be read as a standalone.

More reviews and book talk at :
Profile Image for ☕️Kimberly  (Caffeinated Reviewer).
3,597 reviews786 followers
June 10, 2016
Coffee Dates with Protector for Hire:

First date: Take an ex-Army soldier living in a remote cabin in Montana and add a city girl and you have the makings for Protector for Hire. Schwartz Patton is doing his brother a solid by hiding a young woman on the run from a nasty ex-husband. He just needs to protect her until the law makes an arrest. Add banter, mix in sexual attraction and pop-tarts and you have a F-U-N fun first date!
Second date: Schwartz was a little intimidating on the first date, but the man is really a teddy bear. Do not be fooled. He has lived alone for ten years with only a dog for a companion. He struggles with events from the war and is not much of a talker. He does however have eyes and Janelle Keebler is quite the looker. What he did not expect was to like Janelle. She is fun to tease and gives as good as she gets. There was chemistry from the onset, but I loved the banter as these two built a friendship.
Third date: *wipes moisture from windows* It's a little steamy in here, but the heat feels delightful.  Protector for Hire is light on the suspense angle and focuses more on the romance but we do get some dangerous moments on our last date. Events  that push our characters to express their feelings. Sure it was instalove but it was sweet, adorable and wildly sexy!  I ended this date grinning.
This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer
Profile Image for Simply Love Book Reviews.
7,046 reviews870 followers
June 29, 2015
Slick's review posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

I am seriously going to miss the Patton family and their own brand of craziness but what a way to wrap up a series. A man who has been successfully hiding from his life and his family for 10 years and a woman who needs to disappear for her own safety are forced together in this funny, outrageous, smart, and sexy story making Protector for Hire another fantastic offering from author Tawna Fenske and a superb series finale.

The mysterious Schwarzkopf (Schwartz) Alexander Patton has lived by himself since coming out of a coma following a horrific last Army mission gone badly. Designing security systems allows him to work from him home and have minimal contact with the outside world with only his closest brother having his contact information. While he keeps tabs on his family and doesn't miss any important dates for sending gifts, he's only made one appearance and that was to see his sister married but no one knew he was there. He'll do anything for his family so when his brother Grant asks him to hide and protect his soon to be sister in law Schwartz agrees to the task. He just has no idea how hard it's going to be to keep his hands and other body parts to himself.

If anyone had told Janelle Rebecca Keebler that she'd be going into hiding from her drug running murderous ex-husband she might have laughed at them until it became apparent she was in danger. She has no idea what to expect on this journey but one thing she knows for sure is that she is sure to be safe because the family her sister is marrying into is one of a kind and Schwartz her protector is a member of that family.

I really love stories where two people try to deny their feelings and do the right thing and not be together. Schwartz is one complicated mess of a man; he blames himself for the deaths of his team on his last mission, he has basically isolated himself from the outside world as his punishment and he doesn't think he deserves love especially from him family who he feels he's let down. I loved that Janelle saw all the good in Schwartz, that she believed in him and she tried to prove to him that he not only deserved his family's love that they missed him and would welcome him with open arms. Janelle surprised me with how easily she adapted to mountain living and how other than not having decent coffee she didn't complain. She proved she was tougher than anyone gave her credit for and I greatly admired her for trying to integrate Schwartz back into the land of the living.

These two had some very hot encounters and some of them when they weren't even in the same room together. It was evident they were attracted and Schwartz was bound and determined to maintain his distance for the sake of the mission (protection Janelle) but man when they finally gave in I'm pretty sure the sparks they threw off could be see all across Montana's big sky.

A little bit of suspense, a whole lot of foreplay, some sexy loving, one tough ex-Army man who discovers he needs some light in his life and the woman who provides it made Protector for Hire a delight to read and a remarkable end to this series.

Review copy provided for an honest review.
Profile Image for Sandy S.
8,277 reviews207 followers
June 14, 2015
4 stars

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 30, 2015

Keeping her safe is crucial. Guarding his heart is impossible.

Haunted by his time in Iraq, former soldier Schwartz Patton goes off the grid, retreating deep into Montana’s untamed wilderness. Now, ten years into his self-imposed solitude, his brother tracks him down and asks for a favor. A woman is in danger, and she needs help...and Schwartz is the only one who can protect her.

Designer-loving city girls like Janelle Keebler don't belong in the wilderness. Unless, of course, they're witnesses to a murder by their psycho drug-trafficking ex-husbands. Still, Janelle can't help the immediate physical response she has to her sexy-as-sin protector that leaves her wanting more than she could have ever imagined. Even if he does make terrible coffee...

Every word, every touch, every kiss ignites a need Schwartz thought he’d lost forever. He can't stop the desperate attraction simmering between him and Janelle, even if he wanted to. Even if it means it could get them both killed.

••••••••••

REVIEW: PROTECTOR FOR HIRE is the fourth installment in Tawna Fenske’s adult, contemporary Front and Centre romance series. This is former US soldier Schwartz Patton, and graphic designer Janelle Keebler’s storyline. Janelle is Anna’s sister and Schwartz is Grant’s brother (both from Best Man for Hire #3). PROTECTOR FOR HIRE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous storylines is revealed when necessary. Each FRONT AND CENTRE Patton sibling is named after a famous US General (MacArthur, Sheridan, Grant) and in this our hero’s name is Schwartzkopf Patton


Told from dual third person perspectives, PROTECTOR FOR HIRE finds Janelle Keebler in hiding. Her psycho ex husband-murderer/drug trafficker/all around evil man- is on the run, searching for Janelle in the hopes of ‘convincing’ his ex wife that it would be prudent if she forgot everything that she knows and saw. Janelle was oblivious to her ex husband’s business and in this she believes her ‘picker’ is no longer working. Enter Schwartz Patton-the man who has been tasked with protecting Janelle; keeping her hidden in the remote wilderness of Montana. What ensues is a building relationship between two completely opposite personalities and the realization, for Schwartz, that to move forward he has to learn to forgive himself.

Schwartz Patton has been off the grid for almost a decade. Ten years earlier, a roadside bomb in Iraq wiped out his team, leaving a gravely injured Schwartz as the lone survivor. Survivor’s guilt and the belief that he led his team to their deaths finds Schwartz living with his guilt and his wolfdog ‘Sherman’ in the Montana Wilderness. But family is never far away from Schwartz’s mind, as he continues to keep track of birthdays, anniversaries, celebrations and births.

The relationship between Schwartz and Janelle is one of immediate attraction but Schwartz has been without companionship for so long that the regulars in the small town presumed our hero was ‘all sorts of crazy’ or a mute. As the storyline progresses, so too does the relationship between our leading couple, as Schwartz tries not to succumb to Janelle’s feminine allure and the scent of her designer bath oil. The $ex scenes are intimate and provocative; Schwartz will lose his ‘phone sex virginity’ to Janelle.

PROTECTOR FOR HIRE is a sexy and romantic storyline that ends with another Patton family member finding love and a happily ever after. There are moments of giggle-worthy humor as we are introduced to the local townsfolk and their attempts to gather information about Janelle and Schwartz aka Triple M. And we can’t forget about Schwartz addiction to the toaster pastry-POP TARTS, and Janelle’s need for a great cup of coffee. The sexual innuendo is cause for a few guffaws and hearty groans.

The world building continues to focus on the Patton siblings and their spouses with a little cameo from the family matriarch Stella Patton. I will point out I am not a fan of the name Schwartz. I get it; all of the siblings are named for famous American Generals but Schwartz is probably the least romantic name I have ever encountered in a romance novel-by far-except for one female heroine named Brannislava. ;)

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

www.thereadingcafe.com
Profile Image for Nicola.
1,390 reviews287 followers
June 9, 2015
Book four in Tawna Fenske's Front and Center series sees the arrival of Schwarz Patton and until now he's intrigued as we know virtually nothing about him. The second youngest in the family has been somewhat of a hermit.

"Schwarzkopf Alexander Patton, but if 'God' is easier for you to pronounce than Schwarz, I suppose we'll go with that."

Protector for Hire brings humour, sexiness and the reappearance of all the characters we've grown to love throughout the series. All in the quest to protect Janelle Keebler from her crazy ex-husband. Schwarz is brooding, gruff, dry, quick witted and, like his brothers and sister, has a dirty mind. And he meets his match, because Janelle may be fearful of her ex, but she's feisty, snarky and also shares his sense of humour.

description

This couple were fabulous together. With a natural chemistry, their verbal sparring is both funny and sweet and they create some very heated moments. Tawna Fenske has a writing style that captivates and immerses her reader in the lives of her couples. And I very much liked how couple-centric Schwarz and Janelle's story was because, other than his dog, Sherman, they were holed up in the Montana wilderness and all the focus was on them. I loved Janelle's sassy determined nature and Schwarz? He served in Iraq, it changed him, he has a vulnerable side and he stole a little piece of my heart.

description

Marine for Hire and Fiancée for Hire had me laughing my arse off at the fabulous dry humour and sexy shenanigans, Best Man for Hire pulled more of an emotional punch and Protector for Hire was a perfect mixture of the two. Whilst I would have liked more of an epilogue considering this is the finale, Tawna Fenske has has ended this series on a real high-note; I'm sad the end has arrived but I know I'll be re-acquainting myself with the Patton family again.

Copy received courtesy of Entangled Publishing for an honest and unbiased opinion.

description
Profile Image for Christi Snow.
Author 69 books738 followers
June 30, 2015
My Review:
I loved this book and now I need to go back and read the first three because what I saw of this family, I LOVE!!

First and foremost, this book is about Schwartz. If there's ever been a hero that needs a hug it's this guy. My heart ached for him, because this is a guy who is so mentally wounded after a mission went wrong in Iraq. It went so wrong that he's spent the last 10 years living the life of a hermit as a way to punish himself (although he doesn't see that) for surviving when no one else did. But he's such a good guy and has spent that 10 years making sure his family knows that he hasn't abandoned them. Although only one of his siblings knows how to reach him, he's never missed a holiday, birthday, or event. His thoughts are constantly with them and he misses them dearly. And it's because of his family that he meets Janelle. She's his brothers sister in law and she's being hunted by her evil ex. The only place she can be safe is off the grid, with Schwartz. He's managed to stay hidden for 10 years...he can do the same for her.

Then there's Janelle. Wow, I loved her so much. Schwartz is anti-social and a bit scary, but she doesn't let him intimidate her in the least. Their back and forth kept me giggling all through reading this book. But at the same time, I could feel for her. She married a psychotic criminal and had no clue. As soon as she did, she got out, but now she doubts her ability to judge anyone and if they would be a good match for her. But she quickly recognizes Schwartz's amazing heart and soul and the book is just so good for it.

This is an unusual set-up for a book. You don't find many hermits who make good heroes, but Tawna Fenske created an amazing one here. I loved that initial scene between Schwartz and his brother, Grant, and how Schwartz looks like the Unabomber. I also just really loved all the dialogue between Schwarz and Janelle. The book was sweet, fun, and a bit suspenseful. I loved every single moment of reading it and like I said when I started this review, now I need to go back and read the first three. I love this family and their war-themed ties...LOL. Their names alone are great and their mom is a spit-fire...no wonder her kids turned out so awesome!

I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Profile Image for Irene.
1,907 reviews129 followers
June 30, 2015
4.5 stars

I loved Protector for Hire!

Loved both Schwartz and Janelle, they were both likable and relatable characters, loved their humor and banter. I found myself laughing out loud and smiling non stop.

Schwartz was such a big teddy bear, he made out as if he was a hardass but it was all for show, he was a loving and caring man with a beautiful soul. I couldn't get over how much he loved his pop-tarts! It was always a good time for a pop-tart hahaha

description

The storyline was very entertaining and held my interest from the start until the end. I did find the ending a little far fetched but hey by then I didn't care as I was so in love with them it didn't spoil my overall enjoyment.

The epilogue left me with a heart full of love and a smile on my face that's still there.

Tawna Fenske has done it once again, she's written a wonderful story that will touch your heart and make you feel all these wonderful feels.
It's sad saying goodbye to the Patton family, it's been a joy reading about them =)

I've loved the Front and Center series https://www.goodreads.com/series/1318... and highly recommend all the books. While each book can be read as a standalone you do get to see the other characters in each book as they are based on the Patton siblings.

Thank you to Entangled Lovestruck via Netgalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Profile Image for Becca Akins.
1,177 reviews63 followers
July 26, 2022
The characters fell a bit flat for me. I didn’t fall in love with either of the. So I couldn’t fall in love with their romance.
Profile Image for Ashley.
315 reviews16 followers
June 12, 2015
Sheridan. MacArthur. Grant. Schwarzkopf. You’d think I was talking about American military men and in a way I am, but I’m not. These four siblings have made my life immensely more enjoyable over the last year or so. From the first book to the latest, the Patton siblings and their stories have made me laugh, scream, love, and sigh.

In Protector for Hire we finally get Schwartz’s book. I’ve been wondering if he would get a story ever since Mac’s book but it wasn’t until Grant’s that I knew I needed to know more about the mysterious recluse that is Schwarzkopf Alexander Patton. And what a story it is.

I fell in love with Schwartz almost immediately. It’s so obvious how much he cares for his family even if he’s in a self-imposed exile from seeing them. It hurts him sure, but it’s been ten years and he doesn’t see it ever changing and for the most part he’s okay with that. I’m not though. The man was made to be around family. Especially this family. They all look out for one another and will do anything for each other. It’s a rather inspiring family dynamic.

So, Schwartz is in this exile for something he really had no control over. But isn’t that the way it always is with military types? Something happens and they shoulder the blame, the guilt, but they feel like they could have prevented it? They feel like they should have been the one to have something happen to instead. Don’t take this the wrong way please! I’m not putting anyone down who’s been in this sort of situation. I know it’s hard and I respect the hell out of people who put their lives on the line day in and day out. It’s not something I could ever do. But I digress. Schwartz’s demons haunt him daily and when Janelle enters the picture they just get worse because he’s sworn to protect someone again and he cannot let her down, let his family down, let himself down.

Janelle is a wonderful character. Tawna Fenske writes women amazingly. She actually treats them like people with their own needs and wants and I love that. Janelle is no different. She’s strong, smart and doesn’t put up with much bull. Sure, she doesn’t always pick the best guys but no one’s perfect.

I seriously loved them as a couple. Their city slicker/mountain man dynamic just worked. There were many laughable moments that I’ve come to expect from this series but also enough seriousness that I was left aching for more. Janelle helped Schwartz finally see what was important in his life, her and his family, and I just loved that growth. She helped him to see he didn’t need to shoulder so much guilt from his past and just move on. I don’t know if there will be more books in this series, because the siblings all have books now, but I hope that we get to see more of these two. They are probably my favorite of the four couples.

Protector for Hire is able to go from laugh out loud funny to scorchingly hot in a way not many books are able to achieve. I loved Schwartz’s journey and Janelle’s influence. If this is truly the end of the Front and Center series it went out with a bang.
Profile Image for Maria Rose.
2,636 reviews267 followers
December 31, 2015
In this sexy contemporary romance, book 4 in the Front and Center series but easily read as a standalone, Schwartz has become a self-imposed hermit, haunted by his military past. Only recently has he started to reconnect with his brother Grant, and when Grant needs his help, he can't refuse. Grant's sister-in-law Janelle needs protection from her drug lord and murderer ex-husband, and Schwartz's solitary cabin off the grid is the perfect location to hide out while Schwartz's brothers track him down. But Schwartz has forgotten what it's like to have a female around all the time, and Janelle's presence softens something in him, making him realize how much he's been missing. Can he keep Janelle safe and when the danger is over, will he be willing to let her go?

Like others who've eagerly anticipated Schwartz's story, I thoroughly enjoyed his tale. Schwartz has been an enigma since mentioned in previous books, with no revelation to explain his hermit like existence until now. Here we have a man who is so deep in his self-loathing over actions that he blames himself for, that he's cut himself off from his military family, thinking they would never understand what happened. Despite this, the angst level of the story isn't that high (no ugly crying) but there is definitely a lot of empathy for Schwartz and what he's put himself through. He's a gruff, solitary, man but didn't used to be that way, and Janelle's presence starts to bring back his more human side. Janelle is a city girl through and through but is determined to do whatever is necessary to escape her ex-husband, and if a remote cabin is what it takes, she'll do it. I liked her character a lot - she's still got a lot of fire in her, she's friendly and vivacious and the complete opposite of Schwartz. But as they say, opposites attract, and there is a chemistry between them from their first meeting that won't be denied. While Schwartz is torn between trying to protect Janelle and wanting to make love to her, Janelle feels less restraint on her end and they end up sharing some steamy scenes together. What I really enjoy about this author's writing though, is that there are elements of humor throughout the story, so even love scenes make you smile. It was great to see some of the characters from previous stories in the series, in particular Schwartz's family as he finally admits that keeping himself from them hasn't helped him to heal. I really enjoyed watching him come out of his shell. For me, this was a great mix of action, sex, humour and a sweet romance. 4. 5 stars.

Note: a copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
Profile Image for Jessica Adkins-Charles.
124 reviews16 followers
July 4, 2015
description

Janelle Keebler thought that she found 'the one'. Only 'the one' turned out to be a drug dealing murder. Now Janelle is on the run and the only person who can keep her safe is her sister's fiance's brother - the same brother the Patton family hasn't seen or heard from in ten years.

Schwartz was fine living his life on his own until Janelle tripped and fell into his arms and made herself at home in his secluded life. Now he wants her, but can he keep herself at the same time?

I loved everything about Protector for Hire, truly. The interactions between Schwartz and Janelle range from light and humorous to heated and steamy tension. Janelle is a city girl all the way through and yet she slides seamlessly into Schwartz' life and cabin like it's no big deal. Kudos for that. Also, I loved that Schwartz, this big manly man, has an addiction to poptarts. I thought that was hilarious. Schwartz is caring (hello, he saved a half wolf dog!), protective, and handsome. Pretty much the perfect package, actually.

I had never read a prior book in this series which means that these books CAN be read as stand-alones. Although with how much I absolutely loved this gem, I will be reading the previous three books as soon as possible.

There were moments I laughed out loud and moments where I shook my head at these two, but all of those moments just added up to make this a highly enjoyable read. I loved this couple and especially Schwartz, who undergoes this transformation. And when his family came together at the end of the book to save the day? Pretty epic, which furthermore shows me I NEED to read the previous three books, because if they are even half as good as this one, I will probably have found my new favorite series.

Tawna Fenske delights audience with her writing style and touch of humor while lightly touching on a serious subject and putting it out there that PTSD is real and so is survivor's guilt. I really enjoyed Fenske's way with words and how she weaves together such a great story.
Profile Image for April Symes.
5,013 reviews445 followers
July 1, 2015
I received an ARC copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
Book four in Tawna Fenske's Front and Center series is about Schwarz Patton. He is considered the hermit and is second youngest in the family. This is pretty much what is known about him from previous books and here we have his book.
We will see reappearances of previous characters from other books showing up in this book all to keep Janelle Keebler safe from harm. Her X-Husband is out to kill her and everyone is trying to keep her hidden and keep her alive. His brothers and sister put Janelle with Schwartz she is put with him to protect Janelle and his family try to find a way to draw him out of his self-imposed exile.
The H/h had some pretty major connection immediately but he fought it. He is punishing himself for something that he didn’t have really any control over and he will always blame himself because he think/feels that he will be blamed for what happened 10 + years ago. This leads to conflict between the H/h and then Janelle has her time divided between worrying about what will happen when her ex-husband finds out and what will happen.
Janelle is not a doormat. She has had a terrible life at the hands of a madman & then she finds her second chance with Schwartz. She is a bright, lovely, strong. She has overcome a lot and Schwartz had is a silent, strong, caring man who is recovering from a roadside bomb in Iraq wiped out his team, leaving a horribly injured Schwartz as only survivor . These two people ended up together and found love. Not saying it was smooth road getting together but they found each other. There HEA was emotional and there was several twists and turns getting to the big revel toward the end. All in all, I definitely recommend this story.

My rating: 4.4 stars ****
Profile Image for Books, Coffee & Passion.
521 reviews65 followers
June 28, 2015
Books, Coffee & Passion

Protector For Hire is the fourth book in Front and Center Series and it made me want to read the first three books. It can be read as a standalone without difficulties but I got curious about the previous stories, so I'll probably read the first books in this series.

Grant, Schwartz's brother, asks him to hide and protect Janelle from her ex husband and even though Schwartz has been living like a recluse for the past ten years, he can't refuse his brother's request, so he agrees to protect her and figures it's going to be like any other mission. One that he's determined to accomplish at all costs.
Janelle is on the run and needs to fall off the grid but she doesn't have the skills to do it alone, so she has to trust Schwartz, who she never met, to protect her and to hide her until her ex husband is in jail.

Janelle beats herself up for her poor choice in men and Schwartz has been punishing himself for surviving his last tour.

I really loved Schwartz, his burden is heavy and his values are held high. I really liked how Janelle got under his skin, how she made him open up and it was a real surprise how the city girl adapted so well to the wilderness. Apart for the lack of good coffee! But in all their differences, they're perfect for each other. Their story is full of humor (their trips to town were hilarious!), suspense, lots of heat and sweet moments. And the Patton family won my heart! I'm adding the first three books in this series to my TBR list.
Profile Image for Caro.
1,003 reviews
July 29, 2016
Oh, how I loved this one. Much like the rest of the series, this was a total win for me.

This time is the turn for Schwartz to tell his story. We heard a little bit in the previous books, but now we can finally put the pieces together.

I loved Schwartz and Janelle, though I was more partial to Schwartz, I thought his story had a lot of turns and was so sad, I just wanted to hug the hell out of him. I did think he kind of exaggerated with going to live alone in the woods, but hell, who am I to say how he should cope with his trauma. Still, little by little he started to see that being alone up there wasn’t his best decision. He needed to interact with other people. And I loved seeing that side of him, so awkward, lol, but he was trying. :-)

Loved his interactions with his family, the Pattons sure are a loyal bunch.

As for Janelle, I sort of got the impression that I didn’t know her very much. We heard her story with her ex (what an ass, btw), but more than that, I just felt there was more to her that I didn’t hear. I did like that she helped Schwartz come out of his shell. And I also really enjoyed their time together up in the cabin, and not just because of the sexy times. ;-)

All in all, I really enjoyed this one and the rest of the series. Seems this is the last one of the series, since all four siblings were covered. Sad about that, tbh, I really enjoyed these stories.

Completely recommend you give this series a try.

*Thank you to Entangled Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange of my honest opinion*
Profile Image for Megan.
958 reviews41 followers
January 2, 2016
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*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for honest review* Thank you!!

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Confession: This was my first Tawna Fenske book. I do own the other books in this series, but I just haven’t gotten around to reading them.

I may have not read the previous books in the series, but let me tell you something. This book was awesome. It was like a breath of fresh air. I haven’t had much luck with books lately, but Schwartz was everything I love in my male heroes. And I can’t say a single bad thing about Janelle either.

I loved the setting, the characters, the plot, secondary characters, his family…pretty much everything. It was so cute.

I loved that Janelle was sarcastic and Schwartz matched her evenly. Those two are the perfect couple.

One thing I’ve learned since reading this series is that I need to sit down and read the previous books in the series.

I would so recommend this book. I loved it. It was cute, had great characters, great plot/story line, and it also had some hilarious moments along with some hot scenes.

I love the covers this series has.
2,130 reviews46 followers
July 2, 2015
Schwartz Patton is hiding. He blames himself for the deaths of his comrades and has cut himself off from his family. He lives in a cabin in the Montana woods with his dog. His brother tracks him down and asks him to protect his fiancée's sister. Janelle Keebler saw her ex-husband murdered a rival heroin dealer. Now he is tracking her down. Her testimony could put him away for a long time. Schwartz agrees. When they meet, their attraction is powerful and overwhelming. What happens next made me smile. I loved the spirited exchange between Schwartz and Janelle. They make a beautiful couple. Schwartz's guilt is powerful and makes him afraid to commit. When he's with Janelle, he feels alive. She challenges him with her spirit and her ability to embrace life. Together they tackle life in the wilderness. Their desire heats up and they become lovers. Do they have a future together? I hoped so! I wanted them to have their HEA. The story is filled with passion and excitement. What fun it was to see the rest of the Patton family again. They are not your typical family. When you're with them you feel the love and family commitment. I liked the characters and wanted Schwartz to rejoin the world. He deserves love and happiness. Tawna Fenske made me fall in love with Schwartz. He may be a mysterious mountain man but his gentleness and caring grabbed my heart. I loved Protector For Hire.
Profile Image for Books and Spoons.
1,612 reviews32 followers
July 13, 2015
Hilarious, humorous, fun, sexy and adorable story, that left me smiling.
The story is well written, and the dialog is brilliant, with the humor, word associations, and felicitous marks. The characters are developed, the family unit tight and a bit nuts, just over all truly enjoyable tale.
Schwartz is everything you could dream of, just perfect. He is caring, protective, loyal, kind, thoughtful... So yes, he might be a bit of a grouch, grumpy, and antisocial, loving his isolated world, but his true nature overrides all that, and then some.
Janelle doesn't hold back much, she tells it as she sees it, and goes for what she wants. And she wants Schwartz. That sets off the dirty talking, lust filled days at the cabin somewhere in Montana. While in hiding, they not only engage in mind blowing lovemaking, but also bright, insightful conversations where they share intimate thoughts and experiences of their lives.
The possible danger for Janelle's life is constantly present, but mostly the danger they face in Montana, comes from the wildlife and lively town folk, who offer moonshine with life philosophy.
Joyful, heartening, and cheerful romance, mix of danger and action, family bonding over gunfight, and wilderness living are the elements of the story, that left me grinning and craving for pop tarts
~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side
Profile Image for Rellim.
1,676 reviews43 followers
July 30, 2020
Sorry Mac, but my favorite Patton is now Schwartz. I admit to liking the grumpy/sunshine dynamic, I also liked that the suspense element was a little higher in this book. I may have received the “are you crazy” side-eye from my kids (and dogs) for laughing so much while reading this. Poor Janelle does not have the skills needed to be completely covert and the diner scene was especially hilarious.

I loved Schwartz & Janelle as a couple, their banter, trying to move on from past mistakes, and the HEA. This was a great ending to the series and I’m definitely going to read more of Fenske’s work.

Profile Image for Book Gannet.
1,572 reviews17 followers
December 20, 2018
On second read this didn't stand up too well for me. I've just read the rest of the series for the first time and - if not for a certain confession in the last book, which I'm still trying to forget - found this to be the least interesting of the bunch. Worse, I didn't remember a single bit of it.

Normally when I read a book for the second time I'll get a sort deja-vu feel as I half remember certain lines and scenes, but this had none of that. I didn't even remember Sherman the cute wolf-dog. Instead my attention drifted a bit and I found myself wondering how a dedicated city girl like Janelle could adapt so easily to life in the woods. I also would have expected more of a reaction from Schwartz about having someone else in his space after so long. And his injuries? What injuries? I know it's been a decade, but he still had a limp in the last book. Nothing here.

I was also curious about just when Janelle witnessed her ex's crime. They've been divorced for a year, so was this while they were still married (and thus completely left out of the last book), or something that happened since. The timeline was pretty fuzzy.

I also wasn't here for her TSTL ending. I must have been feeling generous on the last read and let it slide. This time I just sighed. Oh well, at least the first two books were fun.

================================
Original Four Star Review (June 24th 2015)

Clearly I’m late to this party, because this is my first introduction to the intriguing Patton clan. It didn’t take me long to catch up, though, or certainly enough to enjoy this fun contemporary ride. Schwartz might have spent the last decade hiding out in a cabin in the woods, avoiding his close family and talking only to his wolf-dog, but when his brother asks for help protecting a woman, Schwartz instantly says yes.

Because that’s the kind of guy he is. He might think himself unworthy and a terrible person for a ten-year-old mistake (that did have awful consequences), but really he’s a good guy. He’s protective and sweet, the kind of man who rescues injured puppies or picks daisies in the middle of nowhere, and who also has a Pop Tart obsession. He’s determined not to mess up this time, even if that means avoiding the scorching chemistry between him and Janelle at all costs.

Something which Janelle agrees with. Sometimes. Or not at all. Because although she no longer trusts her taste in men – thanks to that murderous, stalking ex-husband of hers – she can’t help being drawn to Schwartz. His lifestyle might not be at all what Janelle is used to, but I liked how she never complains – except about the coffee – and how quickly she adapts to her straightened circumstances. Okay, so maybe the city-girl adaptation is surprisingly swift and pain-free, but the interaction between Janelle and Schwartz has plenty of fun moments – the face pack was pretty good.

There is also an underlying threat throughout this story that Janelle’s ex will find her and do something awful, yet for me I didn’t really feel that tension. If Schwartz hadn’t broken out in constant nobility hives, I might even have forgotten what she was doing there in the first place. So if you’re reading this for suspense, you might be disappointed. If, however, you’re a fan of this series and you’re reading it for the Patton family, you will love it. There are also a few deeper emotional moments about forgiveness, guilt and grief, not to mention learning when to forgive yourself.

Overall this is a quick, fun read with a bit of excitement, plenty of heat and an adorable wolf-dog. If you’re new to this series, you can enjoy this without reading the rest, but if you’re already a fan something tells me you don’t even need to read this review. I might have come in at the end of this series, but I have to admit I’m plenty curious enough to go back and catch up with the rest of the Pattons sometime soon.

(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
Profile Image for Gaele.
4,076 reviews85 followers
July 4, 2015
The first I have read in this series (or by this author) Protector For Hire managed to keep me intrigued and interested while providing just enough information from previous books to not feel overwhelmed. And whether or not I believed it possible, the hermit-like Schwartz was a wonderfully complex hero with a heart of gold underneath the fuzzy bits.

Schwartz (named after General Norman Schwarzkopf) Patton returned from Iraq a broken man some ten years ago. While dealing with his issues and guilt, he has absented himself from friends and family, keeping only one brother in the know as to his whereabouts. Living like a hermit, anti-social, fuzzy and in near complete isolation, that heart shows through in his never missing family events (birthdays, Holidays, etc). He’s decided that only isolation and wallowing is better for everyone else: he’s got zero people skills, or interest in developing them. And people who look at him with fear in their eyes are SO tiring.

Janelle is a sister-in-law to Grant Patton, and in the midst of her own very contentious divorce from a dangerous drug-dealer. While she didn’t believe him particularly dangerous, all things take a turn for the worse, and she needs to hide away. Grant suggests his brother Schwartz- as safe haven and protector in one. And the sparks begin. Janelle is not (to everyone’s surprise) scared by the Unabomber-like appearance of this brother, moreover she finds him appealing: even if he does come off like a grumpy Tarzan when he speaks. She’s used to independence and speaking her mind: and she does, repeatedly. These two fairly sparkle off one another with her poking at him to encourage conversation and his backpedaling from the emotions and desire she stirs up.

Schwartz doesn’t really develop the loquacious facility of a poet, but when he does open up and share, Janelle sees it for what it is: a gift. She sees the wonderful heart belonging to the man too scared to admit he wants to love and be loved, and she won’t stop pushing him to open up. Because that honesty, and realizing that he is wanted and loved, not something to discard, is so very needed. Great dialogue, emotion and some seriously hot and electric moments when only desire is at the forefront highlight this story and keep readers wanting more. The perfect title to encourage readers to visit the earlier books in the series.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Profile Image for Mave.
483 reviews9 followers
December 6, 2015

I love this book, is fun, romantic but also very exciting.
Schwartz has decided to live isolated from the world, he does not want to be found by anyone, not even his family. For ten years he has not seen his family, has only sporadic contact with his brother Grant that now needs his help: her sister-in-law Janelle is in serious danger. She has married a dangerous criminal, and when she has noticed, was too late. Now he threatens to kill her and only Schwartz may be able to hide her. Janelle feels safe and secure in his custody, although just met him. They are immediately very attracted to each other. Schwartz tries to resist, he knows that if he is romantically involved, is more difficult to protect her but it will not be easy.
The two main characters are really adorable and perfect together: their chemistry is really special. Schwartz is a man haunted by the past can not stand to have survived his companions. He has lost all of them, he's the only one who came home alive. He feels guilty, afraid of hurting those he loves and decides to get away and have no contact with them. It 's very tender the tale of how he attended hidden her sister's wedding. To keep him company there are only his nightmares and a wolf . But to heal his wounds comes Janelle, a girl full of life, a really nice person. Naively she committed a mistake that could cost her life.
I love the set, a small house remote desert in the woods of Montana and it's fun to see a typical city girl adapt to hardships and boredom of living as a hermit.
The plot is well developed and is told in third person by alternating the point of view of Schwartz and Janelle
It's the fourth and last book in the series "Front and Center", but can be read as a stand alone. Everyone has as protagonist one of Pattons brothers, I liked it so much that I can not wait to read the first three

This is the perfect read for the summer.
Profile Image for Cara.
852 reviews10 followers
July 9, 2015
So the story goes as follows; Schwartz Patton has made himself into a recluse, after a terrible mission gone wrong, which left him is a coma for three months and the men in his unit dead. For 10 years he has isolated himself from everyone and everything, the only person who had his number was his brother Grant, with strict instructions to use it only under the penalty of death. Now Grant needs to call on his brother’s help, but not for himself; but his sister in law Janelle.
City-girl Janelle Keebler inner good guy radar is broken! How can it not be, when she marries a drug dealer, who treats her bad and even after they are divorced, wants to kill her, just like he did to his associate, right in front of her. After a failed attempt at Witness Protection, her brother in law Grant take her safety into his own hand and ships her of to his recluse of a brother.
But the sparks fly as soon as they meet, though Schwartz is determined to keep her at arm’s length. Can Janelle find confidence in herself again? Can Schwartz overcome his PTSD enough to express his feeling for Janelle? All while keeping Janelle safe...
WOW! What a book! I have truly never read a book like this before and I love every moment of it! I am going to have to start this series from the beginning I think! This book truly blows my mind.
The writing is smooth and the characters well developed, without them being too complex. I would say this story is light-suspense, which also touches on PTSD, without going to heavy into the subject. The passionate scenes are super-hot, BUT are believable! This honestly, makes for a nice change.
Protector for Hire is truly one of the best romantic suspense books I have read so far this year! So for that, I could only give the book a solid 10 out of 10!
1,338 reviews34 followers
July 2, 2015
I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest review, and here it is.

This is the first novel I've read by this author, and it's a gem! There have been quite a number of Wounded Warrior romances , but they generally deal with physical wounds, while Protector for Hire deals with emotional/psychological wounds and it does so without becoming too maudlin. Schwatrz Patton is a big bear of a man, emotionally scarred from something in his military past and carrying a huge load of survivor guilt. Because of it, he's been hiding away in a Montana cabin for a decade. When his brother contacts him and asks him to hide Janelle, the witness to a murder committed by her drug-lord ex-husband who wants to see her dead, he agrees to do just that.

Janelle, our heroine, has nightmares of her own, but she also has spunk, and an excellent sense of humor. When these two meet, the sparks begin to fly and they never stop. The dialogue between them absolutely sparkles. Even the explicit scenes are handled gently--another surprise. With a hero the size of Schwartz, I kept expecting several up-against-the-wall scenes and some seriously rough sex--but Schwatrz is a big marshmallow of a man, as kind and as lovable as a teddy bear.

In addition to Ms. Fenske's light touch with these two characters, she also does so with the townspeople, and with Schwartz's entire family. The humor is a wonderfully welcome gift and it keeps the reader so thoroughly engaged, that I hated to see this story come to a close.

I cannot wait to read follow-up novels about the rest of the Patton family. The author has set the var pretty high with this one.
Profile Image for Mandy.
1,073 reviews93 followers
July 6, 2015
4.5 stars!
Well, I had a nice little review all written up and then it got flushed into the internet toilet somehow. The jist of it was:
I LOVE this author and this series so freaking much. I'm kind of sad that there are no more Patton siblings left! Schwartz was a great choice as far as the last book in the series is concerned. He has been a bit of mystery throughout the series and I know I've been waiting with baited breath to get a hold of him.
Janelle and Schwartz are two very different people, but they connect easily...in MANY ways. Janelle is immediately attracted to Schwartz and the mounting attraction simmers ever so nicely between them.
I loved Schwartz's dedication to keeping Janelle save and eventually how he lets go and falls in love with her.

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Profile Image for Bette Hansen.
5,073 reviews40 followers
June 17, 2015
Fun witty banter between the main characters make this an incredibly enjoyable read. This entire series has been fun to read! In this book Janelle Kebbler needs protection from her murdering ex husband. Where better to hide a city girl than in the woods with a grumpy recluse?? For eight years Schwartz Patton has hidden himself away from everyone after devastating losses in Iraq scarred his heart. Now his brother has tracked him down and asked for his help. Protecting this feisty, beautiful woman may be harder than he expected though!!

This is a good one and I definitely recommend it.
Profile Image for Maria.
939 reviews1 follower
July 19, 2015
Tawna did it once again. The last but definitely not the least bit lovable Patton sibling made it as one of my top read this month. Oh yeah. I can't say Schwartz replaced Mac's place as my most fave Patton brothers but I loved him nonetheless. Tho I'd say I was looking for something more from his story. Still, it was an enjoyable-hot read.


To TF: Till next great series, Ms. Looking forward for more butterfly-in-my-tummies and drool-worthy heroes. Keep 'em coming. *smooches*
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