ANOTHER FANFREAKINGTASTIC BOSTON DOMS BOOK!!
There are certain romances that you think you know what to expect going in, but then at about the midway point you are totally blindsided and you think to yourself. Umm…HELLO?! I did not have a clue how unbelievably awesome this book would be, or the exquisite emotional journey it would take me on.
Such is the case with HER PROTECTOR by talented writing duo Jane Henry and Maisy Archer. I expected a sweet, sexy and heartwarming read that would scintillate my senses, give me warm fuzzy feels and set my pulse racing. But this book literally Blew. Me. Away! There was nothing predictable or typical about this Dom/Sub romance, book three in the swoonalcious Boston Doms series, and the depth of heartthrobbing emotion this book invoked in me was beyond words! HER PROTECTOR has everything I dream of finding within the pages of a satisfying romance and so much more. It is passionate. Sexy. Charming. Breathtakingly romantic. Achingly emotional. Naughty. And left me with a sappy grin on my face!
But first…. full disclosure. To be perfectly honest, I was worried that I might not love this book as much as its predecessor, HIS SUBMISSIVE, because I thought maybe Tony would not be my cup of tea because he is not a “textbook Dom.” He is sweeter, gentler and much more laid back than his FIERCELY Alpha older brothers, Dominic (hero of MY DOM) and Matteo (hero of HIS SUBMISSIVE). I am typically drawn to strict, bossy, take charge heroes who are always in command but guess what? I was wrong again. As it turns out, there is not one size fits all in terms of mouthwateringly sexy Doms and by the end of this book, Tony not only came into his own but he totally won me over!
In a nutshell, this is the story of Tony Angelico, the owner of Cara, the restaurant where Tessa Damon works as his manager. When a highly toxic situation at home leaves Tessa without a place to live, Tony graciously opens up his home—and his heart—to his pretty, auburn-haired employee. He recently broke up with his clingy ex, Val, but always had a thing for Tessa, and the feeling was more than mutual but she has some major family drama and personal strife going on that makes commitment difficult, and besides she is a submissive and Tony is not a natural dominant or into the BDSM scene like his older brothers. Even if she wanted to, Tess could not turn off her submissive side despite the fact that she was wildly attracted to Tony. To her shock and delight, he was willing to try to tap into his Dominant side but they would follow a different playbook. Through the course of the story, as their relationship evolves, he ultimately not only becomes the Dom, and the loving partner, Tess wants but also the one she desperately NEEDS.
Despite their differences and ongoing challenges, it soon became abundantly clear that Tessa and Tony were a match made in Heaven! Tony was a dreamy hero--sweet and gentlemanly but alpha delicious in his own right. He might not be a control freak who set a bunch of stringent rules for his Sub and turn her over his knee for the merest infraction (and in actuality he loved Tess’s saucy mouth and irreverent mannerisms and had absolutely no desire to douse her spirit or get her to bend to his will) but that’s not to say he wasn’t strong and protective and fiercely loyal in his own right. And make no mistake…Tony is hardly a pushover! Sure he might be more naturally inclined to be gentle and tender but when the situation warranted he could be just as macho and formidable as his older brothers, not to mention commanding in the bedroom. Ultimately, Tony knew how to fulfill his brave, beautiful Tessa’s every desire, and was so in tune with her every feeling and inhibition and fantasy it was a glorious thing to behold. And the spanking scenes were not only scorching hot but so beautifully cathartic, especially the pinnacle one at the end which was so poignant it literally brought tears to my eyes!!
Tessa was kind of a hot mess during parts of this book and I loved her for it! She is a very multi-faceted heroine, equal parts sass and aching vulnerability. She had more than her fair share of flaws and hardships, stemming from her dysfunctional upbringing but she was strong and capable, worked hard and loved deeply and faced her feelings of unworthiness and struggles head on. And there were insecurities and setbacks along the way which is always the hallmark of a well-crafted, beautifully nuanced plot. I adore wounded heroines who are also strong and resilient and Tessa was both. Through Tony’s unconditional love, guidance and acceptance she learned to embrace her “Crazy” and find coping mechanisms to deal with her negative impulses and healthy outlets to channel her stress.
The fact that HER PROTECTOR explored an unorthodox Dom/Sub dynamic was one of the main things I relished about it. I love how neither of these characters was 100% confident about their relationship and that they made up the rules as they went along. Ultimately, they both had a lot to learn about themselves, their sexual kinks and desires, romantic compatibility, and by book’s end, I loved how through trial and error Tony fully evolved and embraced his "inner Dom." In fact, no one was more surprised than Tony to discover that being strong, dominant and firmly in control wasn’t remotely about being overbearing or a dictator, but rather about being nurturing and protective and leading by example when you were with the RIGHT partner.
The ongoing BOSTON DOMS series hits my sweet spot in more ways than one. It has a perfect balance of deliciously steamy interludes, family drama, sweet and humorous banter and lively interactions with all the Doms and their beloved Subs. Plus, since I am not a big fan of hardcore BDSM books and tend to get squeamish with erotic romances that include lots of pain play, sex toys, harsh implements, raunchy kink and severe discipline scenarios, I appreciate that this series is not about that. At its core, it is about the loving relationships and sweet, sexy, mutually satisfying power exchanges between the Doms and their Subs and the way these Angelico men worship, respect, take care of, protect and possess their women is spectacularly beautiful. And the countdown has begun for Slay and Alice’s story, which is next!!!
My takeaway? HER PROTECTOR, penned by two mega dynamite authors, was perfectly divine in every way. A must read!
5+++ spankalicous stars!!!