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Slow Burn
I was hired to protect her, not make her scream my name.
From dodging bullets in Afghanistan to working for the Secret Service, I know danger pretty well.
Or I thought I did. That was before my latest assignment came with a whole new kind of danger.
Her name? Ruby.
She’s the gorgeous-as-hell, opinionated, spitfire daughter of Senator Burgess. Her family’s beyond strict, but for a girl who’s so innocent, she’s anything but sweet.
Wicked green eyes, curves that beg me to touch them, and a smile that makes me think dirty, dirty thoughts.
Her father’s a nightmare — a totalitarian who rules his family with an iron fist. He decides what clothes his daughters wear, what books they read, where they can go — hell, who they marry.
Ruby can pretend with them, but she can’t pretend with me. I can tell there’s more to her than the demure southern belle she has to be in public.
But I’m a professional, hired to be her bodyguard. I know better than to fall for someone I’m supposed to protect, but with every glance, every accidental touch, every word she says to me, I just want her more.
I want to tear away the innocent good girl veneer, and make the real Ruby scream my name as she rakes her nails down my back.
It’s f*cking dangerous. If we get caught, there will be hell to pay — and it’ll be worse for her.
But I don’t think I can stay away.
Slow Burn is a full-length, completely standalone novel with a happily-ever-after ending and steamy scenes that might require a cold shower.
From dodging bullets in Afghanistan to working for the Secret Service, I know danger pretty well.
Or I thought I did. That was before my latest assignment came with a whole new kind of danger.
Her name? Ruby.
She’s the gorgeous-as-hell, opinionated, spitfire daughter of Senator Burgess. Her family’s beyond strict, but for a girl who’s so innocent, she’s anything but sweet.
Wicked green eyes, curves that beg me to touch them, and a smile that makes me think dirty, dirty thoughts.
Her father’s a nightmare — a totalitarian who rules his family with an iron fist. He decides what clothes his daughters wear, what books they read, where they can go — hell, who they marry.
Ruby can pretend with them, but she can’t pretend with me. I can tell there’s more to her than the demure southern belle she has to be in public.
But I’m a professional, hired to be her bodyguard. I know better than to fall for someone I’m supposed to protect, but with every glance, every accidental touch, every word she says to me, I just want her more.
I want to tear away the innocent good girl veneer, and make the real Ruby scream my name as she rakes her nails down my back.
It’s f*cking dangerous. If we get caught, there will be hell to pay — and it’ll be worse for her.
But I don’t think I can stay away.
Slow Burn is a full-length, completely standalone novel with a happily-ever-after ending and steamy scenes that might require a cold shower.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 23, 2017
325 people are currently reading
897 people want to read
About the author
Roxie Noir
44 books3,484 followersRoxie is a romance author by day, and also a romance author by night. She lives in Los Angeles with one husband, two cats, far too many books, and a truly alarming pile of used notebooks that she refuses to throw away.
She's the author of the Loveless Brothers series, the upcoming Wildwood Society series, and a bunch of other books that are also delightful.
If you need updates or free stories, you can sign up for her newsletter: http://roxienoir.com/newsletter
She's the author of the Loveless Brothers series, the upcoming Wildwood Society series, and a bunch of other books that are also delightful.
If you need updates or free stories, you can sign up for her newsletter: http://roxienoir.com/newsletter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 216 reviews
June 19, 2017
In short:
Hero 5/5 | Heroine 5/5 | Plot (Point, Originality) 3/5 | Writing Style 4/5 | Steam 5/5 | Romance 4/5 | Angst-Suspense 3/5 | Darkness 0/5 | Humor 3/5 | Secondary Characters 3/5 | Drama-Conflict 4/5 | Mystery 0/5 | Twists 3/5 | Pacing Steady | Action 4/5
Hero 5/5 | Heroine 5/5 | Plot (Point, Originality) 3/5 | Writing Style 4/5 | Steam 5/5 | Romance 4/5 | Angst-Suspense 3/5 | Darkness 0/5 | Humor 3/5 | Secondary Characters 3/5 | Drama-Conflict 4/5 | Mystery 0/5 | Twists 3/5 | Pacing Steady | Action 4/5
March 16, 2020
This book is entertaining. The life of Ruby being raised by some sort of religion cult, is entertaining. Ruby managed to make a joke from her upbringing. Gabriel is typical alpha male hero.
What I wish to see more is the chemsitry betwee Ruby and Gabriel. The story seems to focus on the cult side and not so much on the romance. Overall it is still entertaining book.
This is my first read by this author and certainly will not be my last.
4 stars
What I wish to see more is the chemsitry betwee Ruby and Gabriel. The story seems to focus on the cult side and not so much on the romance. Overall it is still entertaining book.
This is my first read by this author and certainly will not be my last.
4 stars
January 31, 2020
Holy cow! This book had my blood pressure boiling! Ruby is the daughter of a Senator up for re-election and a very religious man. Her father is the man of the house and has control of everything, even who she marries. He believes women's sole responsibility is taking care of her husband, kids and home only.
Ruby is 25, divorced from her gay husband, who her father picked out for her and back at home under his thumb. She is considered tainted for not sticking the marriage out and her fathers goal is to get her married off again. What he doesn't know is that he doesn't have the control he thinks he does.
Ruby is a little wiser now and knows she needs to get out, but in the mean time she is being stalked. Her father hires a bodyguard, Gabriel, to protect her until the stalker is apprehended.
Gabriel is on leave from Secret Service after a scandal he caused. He needs to tow the line on this new assignment if he expects to get back into service. Problem is, can he do what's asked of him by Ruby's father or will he put his job in jeopardy to help Ruby?
The first half of the book was a bit slow but it was also necessary to show what Ruby's life is like in such a religious family. The author did an excellent job of portraying how trapped Ruby felt, yet still gave her a strength that most women wouldn't have after being raised by a man like her father.
The second half of the book, the pages just flew by. Ruby and Gabriel stopped fighting their attraction to each other, the stalker was caught and not someone I was expecting. The way Ruby got away from her family was awesome and the last few chapters of her and Gabriel figuring life out was beautiful. ARC provided by author.
Ruby is 25, divorced from her gay husband, who her father picked out for her and back at home under his thumb. She is considered tainted for not sticking the marriage out and her fathers goal is to get her married off again. What he doesn't know is that he doesn't have the control he thinks he does.
Ruby is a little wiser now and knows she needs to get out, but in the mean time she is being stalked. Her father hires a bodyguard, Gabriel, to protect her until the stalker is apprehended.
Gabriel is on leave from Secret Service after a scandal he caused. He needs to tow the line on this new assignment if he expects to get back into service. Problem is, can he do what's asked of him by Ruby's father or will he put his job in jeopardy to help Ruby?
The first half of the book was a bit slow but it was also necessary to show what Ruby's life is like in such a religious family. The author did an excellent job of portraying how trapped Ruby felt, yet still gave her a strength that most women wouldn't have after being raised by a man like her father.
The second half of the book, the pages just flew by. Ruby and Gabriel stopped fighting their attraction to each other, the stalker was caught and not someone I was expecting. The way Ruby got away from her family was awesome and the last few chapters of her and Gabriel figuring life out was beautiful. ARC provided by author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2021
4.5 stars. This is my first book by this author and I’m really pleasantly surprised. Her skill is very apparent, this book has really good pace, plot, dialogue… and I really have to nit pick to find a complaint.
This isn’t like the typical romance books I read - I usually prefer lighter and lower angst. This book isn’t light, but it’s not exactly super dark either. The heroine is the daughter of a senator who has been raised in the equivalent of a cult setting. Her father is extremely controlling and sees women as subservient and less-than men. At 19, she’s coerced into marrying a man who’s gay (and who was sent multiple times to un-gay camp as a teen). Ofc, their marriage doesn’t work, and she divorced him several years later. She’s forced to return to her father’s house because of a lack of job prospects and money. Her family now treats her as a sinner for getting a divorce… and keeps her under tight supervision and control. However, her father is forced to hire a bodyguard for her because she is sent multiple letters by a stalker detailing all kinds of horrible things he wants to do to her. Her bodyguard is the hero, and their story is all kinds of good.
My biggest complaint is that the hero and heroine were acting just a little too unreasonably at times. They took too many risks and came close to being caught way too many times. Although they are both definitely painted as risk takers, so I guess their actions made sense in the context of their personalities.
I totally recommend this book, and I’m looking forward to reading another by this author asap.
Safety is good for this book… but he’s def a manwhore and she’s only ever been with her gay ex-husband. He has been with “dozens of women” mostly ONS or short flings, and was part of the secret service until he had an affair with a married congresswoman. She goes on a date with OM that is forced on her by her family. No cheating, no OW drama, mild OM drama that I mentioned, no scenes with OM/OW.
TW: misogyny, really hardcore religious views that cross the line into cult behavior, child abuse (emotional), forced captivity
This isn’t like the typical romance books I read - I usually prefer lighter and lower angst. This book isn’t light, but it’s not exactly super dark either. The heroine is the daughter of a senator who has been raised in the equivalent of a cult setting. Her father is extremely controlling and sees women as subservient and less-than men. At 19, she’s coerced into marrying a man who’s gay (and who was sent multiple times to un-gay camp as a teen). Ofc, their marriage doesn’t work, and she divorced him several years later. She’s forced to return to her father’s house because of a lack of job prospects and money. Her family now treats her as a sinner for getting a divorce… and keeps her under tight supervision and control. However, her father is forced to hire a bodyguard for her because she is sent multiple letters by a stalker detailing all kinds of horrible things he wants to do to her. Her bodyguard is the hero, and their story is all kinds of good.
My biggest complaint is that the hero and heroine were acting just a little too unreasonably at times. They took too many risks and came close to being caught way too many times. Although they are both definitely painted as risk takers, so I guess their actions made sense in the context of their personalities.
I totally recommend this book, and I’m looking forward to reading another by this author asap.
Safety is good for this book… but he’s def a manwhore and she’s only ever been with her gay ex-husband. He has been with “dozens of women” mostly ONS or short flings, and was part of the secret service until he had an affair with a married congresswoman. She goes on a date with OM that is forced on her by her family. No cheating, no OW drama, mild OM drama that I mentioned, no scenes with OM/OW.
TW: misogyny, really hardcore religious views that cross the line into cult behavior, child abuse (emotional), forced captivity
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2017
This was an exceptional read! I loved this story about Ruby, a woman who is a prisoner in her own home, and Gabriel, the man charged with keeping her safe and pure. This couple absolutely won my heart and I will always remember their story, it was just that good.
Although I was busy with life while reading this book, it is fast paced and never boring or trite. I wanted to devour it but unfortunately, again, life. I’ve read other works from this author and I’ve yet to be disappointed.
Ruby is trapped in a life that she desperately wants out of but has no options to do so. Gabriel just wants to complete the job in a manner that might get him reinstated with the secret service. Neither of them were expecting the feelings they had for the other or the way they were complete when together. There is some suspense and mystery, some steamy scenes that will take your breath away, romance that feels fresh and new, and a conclusion to their problems that I wasn’t expecting.
It has an epilogue for one year later but I would’ve liked either a little different ending or additional information a few years later. It was still satisfying but I’m pretty greedy when it comes to my final epilogues and my couple’s happy ever afters.
And now I absolutely must check out Roxie Noir’s backlist and all the amazing books I haven’t read yet.
Dual POV
No physical abuse
Triggers -
ARC generously provided by author and this is most definitely my honest review
Although I was busy with life while reading this book, it is fast paced and never boring or trite. I wanted to devour it but unfortunately, again, life. I’ve read other works from this author and I’ve yet to be disappointed.
Ruby is trapped in a life that she desperately wants out of but has no options to do so. Gabriel just wants to complete the job in a manner that might get him reinstated with the secret service. Neither of them were expecting the feelings they had for the other or the way they were complete when together. There is some suspense and mystery, some steamy scenes that will take your breath away, romance that feels fresh and new, and a conclusion to their problems that I wasn’t expecting.
It has an epilogue for one year later but I would’ve liked either a little different ending or additional information a few years later. It was still satisfying but I’m pretty greedy when it comes to my final epilogues and my couple’s happy ever afters.
And now I absolutely must check out Roxie Noir’s backlist and all the amazing books I haven’t read yet.
Dual POV
No physical abuse
Triggers -
ARC generously provided by author and this is most definitely my honest review
August 28, 2019
Just an OK read.
August 1, 2023
Roxie Noir has joined my list of "if they write it I will read it" favorite authors. This is my 4th Roxie book in just a few months, I almost never binge series or authors. I think the last time I did so was the Elena Ferrante Neapolitan novels in 2016. I started with the three books in Roxie's Dirtshine series, and I admit I was hesitant to move to other books outside the series so fast. I loved the characters in that series, and thought I might be disappointed with a different crew. I was not.
Slow Burn has one of the most unique setups of any romance I have ever read. Ruby is the daughter of an ultra right wing ultra fundamentalist Christian senator (think Westboro Baptist.) Girls are not educated, and they are raised to be meek and submissive, to push down any feelings they have. When Ruby divorces the son of the head preacherman (for good reasons I will leave you to discover on your own) she becomes a scandal, and in an election year no less. Ruby's father keeps her mostly locked away, will not permit her to work, requires that she wear pantyhose and bulky long skirts and loose t-shirts and spend her days making jam and such. Notwithstanding the rehabilitation efforts Ruby draws a stalker. As the stalker's messages become more and more disturbed and threatening the senator calls in outside security. Enter the dreamy Gabriel. Ex-Marine and Secret Service on probation (a bad boy in many ways, his drinking and his affair with a married congresswoman seems to be what brought him down.) If he messes up here, he is out. Then he meets Ruby, recognizes a grown woman is being denied self-determination, notes that he is hot for said woman, and sets himself to supporting her, bedding her, and freeing her (in that order.) From the moment they meet the story becomes a hurdle filled countdown to Gabriel's unemployment and Ruby's liberation. The story is hot and sweet and progressive and lovely. I adored Ruby and Gabriel. The Senator (though a horrible despot) made a good and non-cartoonish villain. There are a lot of victims here, even most of the villains are victims. The real enemy is Christian fundamentalism and its dehumanization of women and LGBTQ+ people. I loved nearly every moment of this read -- Accordingly I forgive that one tiny lapse and happily click on another Roxie 5-star.
One addendum. I started this as an audiobook but both narrators adopted the most abysmal Southern accents I have ever heard. It was painful. I switched to Kindle pretty early on and it was a good choice. For people who have not lived in the deep South, people who think Nic Cage's accent in Con Air sounded just fine, this might not be an issue.
Slow Burn has one of the most unique setups of any romance I have ever read. Ruby is the daughter of an ultra right wing ultra fundamentalist Christian senator (think Westboro Baptist.) Girls are not educated, and they are raised to be meek and submissive, to push down any feelings they have. When Ruby divorces the son of the head preacherman (for good reasons I will leave you to discover on your own) she becomes a scandal, and in an election year no less. Ruby's father keeps her mostly locked away, will not permit her to work, requires that she wear pantyhose and bulky long skirts and loose t-shirts and spend her days making jam and such. Notwithstanding the rehabilitation efforts Ruby draws a stalker. As the stalker's messages become more and more disturbed and threatening the senator calls in outside security. Enter the dreamy Gabriel. Ex-Marine and Secret Service on probation (a bad boy in many ways, his drinking and his affair with a married congresswoman seems to be what brought him down.) If he messes up here, he is out. Then he meets Ruby, recognizes a grown woman is being denied self-determination, notes that he is hot for said woman, and sets himself to supporting her, bedding her, and freeing her (in that order.) From the moment they meet the story becomes a hurdle filled countdown to Gabriel's unemployment and Ruby's liberation. The story is hot and sweet and progressive and lovely. I adored Ruby and Gabriel. The Senator (though a horrible despot) made a good and non-cartoonish villain. There are a lot of victims here, even most of the villains are victims. The real enemy is Christian fundamentalism and its dehumanization of women and LGBTQ+ people. I loved nearly every moment of this read -- Accordingly I forgive that one tiny lapse and happily click on another Roxie 5-star.
One addendum. I started this as an audiobook but both narrators adopted the most abysmal Southern accents I have ever heard. It was painful. I switched to Kindle pretty early on and it was a good choice. For people who have not lived in the deep South, people who think Nic Cage's accent in Con Air sounded just fine, this might not be an issue.
no-thanks
December 8, 2021Self-note :
Frozen h paired with manwhore.
Frozen h paired with manwhore.
July 15, 2021
what lacked in this book was stakes. never once did i feel like ruby was in any real danger from her stalker. their bark (aka the letters) was worse than their bite. at least have a scene where ruby gets separated by gabriel at one of the MANY outings they went to. near the end i was actually wondering if 'the stalker' was actually a ruse cooked up by ruby's dickhead father. at least that would've been entertaining to see that bastard dragged away by the cops. instead what we got were a lot of false alarms and ultimately the perpetrator being taken care of off-page. bad storytelling.
other than ruby and gabriel, we didn't get to know any other characters beyond the surface. they were as one dimensional as you could get. the only reason this is getting 2 stars instead of 1 was that the romance was really cute and not completely unbearable. also loved that the epilogue left things a little open-ended. no running off to get married after 5 days like most books of this genre tend to do. kudos to that. the audiobook was also pretty decent as well.
sidenote: the phrase 'treasure trail' was used so many times to describe gabriel's 'happy trail'. if this was a drinking game i'd be hospitalized.
other than ruby and gabriel, we didn't get to know any other characters beyond the surface. they were as one dimensional as you could get. the only reason this is getting 2 stars instead of 1 was that the romance was really cute and not completely unbearable. also loved that the epilogue left things a little open-ended. no running off to get married after 5 days like most books of this genre tend to do. kudos to that. the audiobook was also pretty decent as well.
sidenote: the phrase 'treasure trail' was used so many times to describe gabriel's 'happy trail'. if this was a drinking game i'd be hospitalized.
May 28, 2019
Way too much emphasis on sex and barely any suspense. Not a believable "romantic suspense".
June 4, 2017
Great story
Wow. This book grabbed me from the beginning. It had some twists & turns you don't see coming. It also has strong characters.
Wow. This book grabbed me from the beginning. It had some twists & turns you don't see coming. It also has strong characters.
June 8, 2022
I feel like I’m the only one that didn’t really like this. DNF at 24%. The guy has slept around so much. And there’s Instalust from both of them. It feels so shallow. I don’t like him. And while I feel sorry for her, there is no way I would have returned home in a similar case so I cannot relate. I would have found a way to be independent. For this part of the book at least, she’s not really making plans on how to get free.
I just don’t care about this couple.
I just don’t care about this couple.
May 25, 2017
Insane, captivating storyline that will slow burn you! Ruby is living a nightmare day after day. He father is that crazy one who controls everything down to her clothes. I think if I was her I would have lost my fin mind. Gabriel is brought on as security to follow her around. However their chemistry is flying off the pages. I thought for sure as much as she sneaks around someone was going to get caught. You get so lost in the story that you keep second guessing everything and everyone's motives time and time again. I really felt a connection to the characters in this one because she just wants to make her own choices and it's easy to relate to.
May 24, 2017
What is not to love about this book. You have great characters who can hold a readers attention, twists, romance and a hottie.
Ruby is back home after a failed marriage. Her father is a Senator and she has a stalker so who comes in as her body guard…Gabriel.
I liked how the Senator was portrayed as it showed a lot about Rudy and the way she is.
At 26 it was funny to see her doing things behind her fathers back like sneaking out.
A fun read that will keep you glued to your seat.
I voluntarily reviewed this book in exchange for an advanced copy!
Ruby is back home after a failed marriage. Her father is a Senator and she has a stalker so who comes in as her body guard…Gabriel.
I liked how the Senator was portrayed as it showed a lot about Rudy and the way she is.
At 26 it was funny to see her doing things behind her fathers back like sneaking out.
A fun read that will keep you glued to your seat.
I voluntarily reviewed this book in exchange for an advanced copy!
May 24, 2017
Wow, Ruby lives in almost another world, her family life is so extreme and intense. Gabriel is supposed to watch out after her, but who is supposed to protect her from her crazy family? This book is full of angst and oppression and suspense. These two deserve so much more. Oh and when they get together, it is so hot. They are like fire and gasoline!
This author's writing is so smooth and flawless. Every time I read a book of hers, it is hard to put down, and this one is no different! I loved these characters, they are complex and interesting, endearing and real. I recommend this if you're looking for something to get lost in. I received an arc, it has a happily ever after and dual pov.
This author's writing is so smooth and flawless. Every time I read a book of hers, it is hard to put down, and this one is no different! I loved these characters, they are complex and interesting, endearing and real. I recommend this if you're looking for something to get lost in. I received an arc, it has a happily ever after and dual pov.
September 13, 2017
Eehhh
Mannn I have to say I'm disappointed. I was really stuck between 2 and 3 stars on this one. I love this author but sadly not this book. It was so incredibly slow and the whole crazy cult/religion thing was too weird for me. She was a little too weak and though it wasn't talked about much he was a major player. Overall the story was definitely different and unique but just wanted into. Sorry. But I still love this author!
Mannn I have to say I'm disappointed. I was really stuck between 2 and 3 stars on this one. I love this author but sadly not this book. It was so incredibly slow and the whole crazy cult/religion thing was too weird for me. She was a little too weak and though it wasn't talked about much he was a major player. Overall the story was definitely different and unique but just wanted into. Sorry. But I still love this author!
July 3, 2025
Interesting context (super-conservative, evangelical Christian, political family in the American South) and sympathetic protagonists but I didn’t feel we got to know Gabriel very well so the romance element wasn’t as compelling to me as most of this author’s work usually is. The thriller/suspense parts worked very well, though.
May 24, 2017
Loved this book...it is a must read... Once I started it I couldn't put it down and by the end I was speechless and let me just say I didn't expect the stalker to turn out to be who it was
I voluntarily read a review copy of the book
I voluntarily read a review copy of the book
June 8, 2017
I really liked the story. Ruby is a strong woman that has lived an unusual life. It's almost "cult like" in the respect of the very biased morals. I feel sorry for her that she has endured being treated like an outcast by her own family. However, she has a strong sense about herself that I admire. Gabriel is a strong man, but has lost his sense of purpose. He finds himself on a new assignment. It's different from anything that he has ever been around. Then he meets Ruby. Then his perspective changes. Together they find the missing pieces to each other that they didn't realize were missing. It's a great story about discovery. I voluntarily read a review copy of this book.
Read
November 16, 2017I just wasn't feeling this. The whole subservient & be seen-not heard, overly religious thing was just not my cuppa.
September 1, 2021
Heroine is trapped in her family’s cult, and the hero is hired as her bodyguard who helps her escape. I wasn’t expecting the heavy plot line but the book was engaging
June 1, 2017
The Tyranny of "Keeping Sweet". The Absolute Joy of Sweet Release!!!
Absolutely wonderful book filled with achingly hot desire, beautiful erotic love scenes and serious themes about religious fanaticism and those who bear the brunt of psychological and even physical harm living under the unnatural tenets of belief that have very little to do with the love of God...Also the Christ He sent to us who delivered but two commands and preached with "Blessings".
Ruby was always a disappointment to her parents and the fact that she returned home after a justifiable divorce did not help matters in terms of her standing with her father, the "morality" senator of America. Her mother was also unsympathetic to her daughter's plight, so entrenched was her belief that a woman's role and place in the home and society at large is to be subservient to her husband and to "keep sweet" in the face of everything, no matter the emotional cost or damage to your self-esteem.
The women were constantly reminded of Satan lurking around every corner and in any inappropriate display of immodesty. Their standards of dress were extreme in all the ways that completely erase any hint of womanhood, let alone beauty, sensuality or sexuality. So too was Satan, the root cause of any display of temper (justified or not), personality or independent thinking. Any of one of these displays was met with the admonishment to "keep sweet". This phrase, unfortunately is real and not a figment of Ms.Noir creative imagination, it is most closely associated with Polygamist sects living on the border of Utah and Arizona. Ruby was trying to "keep sweet" with a little help from "the bottle".
Ms. Noir brings to light the harm and injustice to woman, gay people and even young men who learn to objectify women. The prime objectification is one-sided sex, basically using a woman as a thing (means for self-pleasure) or viewing pronography that objectifys women. Lessons in manhood do not include tenderness, loving your spouse and doing what it takes to show your love in all ways... emotionally, communication style, supporting her personal growth and tenderness in the act of making love. By means of storytelling, the point is made that individuals who are genetically prone to mental illness also suffer mightily under this strict religious oppression.
Into this warped version of "Father Knows Best" comes our damaged hero Gabriel much like an angel who bears the same name. He is a Secret Service Agent with lingering PTSD issues "on leave" hired by the senator to be Ruby's bodyguard because of serious threats to her well being and safety. Naturally, we the reader fall in love with his male physical "gorgeousness" through the eyes of our heroine. Gabriel sees beyond the "sweet" facade Ruby paints on her face with a little help from her liquid courage. He recognizes her beauty and lively soul. There is a palpable current of electric attraction between them. In this attraction, Ms. Noir shows great skill with creating the tension of the forbidden "Slow Burn".
She takes us, the reader, slowly and skillfully through every nuance and progressive step in the "Slow Burn" until we are in the midst of a raging fire. It is a fantasy but in the same breath it is very realistic in the emotions that both our main characters experience through their thoughts and actions. She takes the reader to unexpected places and not to pat resolutions with which we the romance reader are most comfortable. To say more would spoil your savoring of this beautiful and meaningful story.
I congratulate Ms. Noir on this latest book. With every new release, she gets better and better at telling a smokin' hot romantic story that is meaningful and substantive. I love her down to earth style. She is clever in that themes that carry a heavy weight are so cleanly and clearly expressed in complex yet very understandable characters. A case in point is Gabriel a highly skilled military man and federal agent. He finds healing in his care and protection of Ruby. He is willing to humble himself to lift up his woman, his love. This is in direct contrast to every other male character in the novel. The most virile, most macho, most attractive man to us, the reader, uplifts his lover. Is this not more an example of how God loves us? Like a prayer in my mind I will sometime turn over the simple phrase, "Consider the lilies". The point being... how much God loves us and cares for us. That which is love is God. "Morality" is a mere servant of love and flows forth from love. Religion used as a bludgeon has nothing to do with love...dare I say with God?
For those who are like me and cannot live without the romance, this is a must-have and will become a favorite to read and reread. One click to enjoy the "Slow Burn" of inescapable attraction and the freedom found in the truest love.
Absolutely wonderful book filled with achingly hot desire, beautiful erotic love scenes and serious themes about religious fanaticism and those who bear the brunt of psychological and even physical harm living under the unnatural tenets of belief that have very little to do with the love of God...Also the Christ He sent to us who delivered but two commands and preached with "Blessings".
Ruby was always a disappointment to her parents and the fact that she returned home after a justifiable divorce did not help matters in terms of her standing with her father, the "morality" senator of America. Her mother was also unsympathetic to her daughter's plight, so entrenched was her belief that a woman's role and place in the home and society at large is to be subservient to her husband and to "keep sweet" in the face of everything, no matter the emotional cost or damage to your self-esteem.
The women were constantly reminded of Satan lurking around every corner and in any inappropriate display of immodesty. Their standards of dress were extreme in all the ways that completely erase any hint of womanhood, let alone beauty, sensuality or sexuality. So too was Satan, the root cause of any display of temper (justified or not), personality or independent thinking. Any of one of these displays was met with the admonishment to "keep sweet". This phrase, unfortunately is real and not a figment of Ms.Noir creative imagination, it is most closely associated with Polygamist sects living on the border of Utah and Arizona. Ruby was trying to "keep sweet" with a little help from "the bottle".
Ms. Noir brings to light the harm and injustice to woman, gay people and even young men who learn to objectify women. The prime objectification is one-sided sex, basically using a woman as a thing (means for self-pleasure) or viewing pronography that objectifys women. Lessons in manhood do not include tenderness, loving your spouse and doing what it takes to show your love in all ways... emotionally, communication style, supporting her personal growth and tenderness in the act of making love. By means of storytelling, the point is made that individuals who are genetically prone to mental illness also suffer mightily under this strict religious oppression.
Into this warped version of "Father Knows Best" comes our damaged hero Gabriel much like an angel who bears the same name. He is a Secret Service Agent with lingering PTSD issues "on leave" hired by the senator to be Ruby's bodyguard because of serious threats to her well being and safety. Naturally, we the reader fall in love with his male physical "gorgeousness" through the eyes of our heroine. Gabriel sees beyond the "sweet" facade Ruby paints on her face with a little help from her liquid courage. He recognizes her beauty and lively soul. There is a palpable current of electric attraction between them. In this attraction, Ms. Noir shows great skill with creating the tension of the forbidden "Slow Burn".
She takes us, the reader, slowly and skillfully through every nuance and progressive step in the "Slow Burn" until we are in the midst of a raging fire. It is a fantasy but in the same breath it is very realistic in the emotions that both our main characters experience through their thoughts and actions. She takes the reader to unexpected places and not to pat resolutions with which we the romance reader are most comfortable. To say more would spoil your savoring of this beautiful and meaningful story.
I congratulate Ms. Noir on this latest book. With every new release, she gets better and better at telling a smokin' hot romantic story that is meaningful and substantive. I love her down to earth style. She is clever in that themes that carry a heavy weight are so cleanly and clearly expressed in complex yet very understandable characters. A case in point is Gabriel a highly skilled military man and federal agent. He finds healing in his care and protection of Ruby. He is willing to humble himself to lift up his woman, his love. This is in direct contrast to every other male character in the novel. The most virile, most macho, most attractive man to us, the reader, uplifts his lover. Is this not more an example of how God loves us? Like a prayer in my mind I will sometime turn over the simple phrase, "Consider the lilies". The point being... how much God loves us and cares for us. That which is love is God. "Morality" is a mere servant of love and flows forth from love. Religion used as a bludgeon has nothing to do with love...dare I say with God?
For those who are like me and cannot live without the romance, this is a must-have and will become a favorite to read and reread. One click to enjoy the "Slow Burn" of inescapable attraction and the freedom found in the truest love.
May 24, 2017
I loved these characters. Roxie has written a wonderful book which I absolutely loved❣
Ruby is a sweet young woman at 26 years old but very naive due to her parents and their "moral" beliefs which are very out dated and sometimes even cruel she's not a stranger to the opposite sex as she was married but that's a story in itself .. (read to find out as I don't want to spoil anything) anyway her father hires a bodyguard for Ruby and oh boy what a bodyguard he is...
Gabriel is a veteran/secret service man turned bodyguard who has a 1 goal...do his job, do it well and get his old job back but what he didn't expect was to get in bed with his charge ....what could possibly go wrong right?!
SERIOUSLY READ TO FIND OUT YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED❣
Ruby is a sweet young woman at 26 years old but very naive due to her parents and their "moral" beliefs which are very out dated and sometimes even cruel she's not a stranger to the opposite sex as she was married but that's a story in itself .. (read to find out as I don't want to spoil anything) anyway her father hires a bodyguard for Ruby and oh boy what a bodyguard he is...
Gabriel is a veteran/secret service man turned bodyguard who has a 1 goal...do his job, do it well and get his old job back but what he didn't expect was to get in bed with his charge ....what could possibly go wrong right?!
SERIOUSLY READ TO FIND OUT YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED❣
February 5, 2019
Ruby is tainted goods, well that's what everyone seems to think. Her father the God fearing Senator, her mother the doting wife, and all the members of the church. Basically everyone she has ever known. After she divorces her husband she is forced to move back home to the family mansion and tow the party line. Make jam, take photos of floral arrangements, and don't do anything to further embarrass the family or her fathers chances at re-election. While she's slowly being smothered under the oppression of her highly religious and very sexist father, more trouble abounds. She's being stalked, and the letters she's receiving are truly disturbing. Her father decides it's time to bring in a bodyguard to protect her while out on the campaign trail.
Gabriel is also trying to come back from a recent scandal. His chances of returning to the Secret Service hinge on this one time bodyguard job for the spoiled uptight daughter of a Senator. Little does he know that his misconceptions on this new job and what he really wants are far from the truth. He's been to war, slept with many women, and thinks that there are no surprises left to be seen. What starts out being a boring nightmare of a job ends up being a whirlwind of emotions and feelings he wasn't expecting.
While the suspense wasn't from where you'd expect it, I still felt it. The stalker part of the story wasn't what I was expecting. I kept thinking something would happen and it wouldn't. It actually went in a completely different direction and I think that I liked that more than if we'd just been given the usual.
What was expected and I would have been sad to miss was the happy ending. Thankfully this book ended on such a happy note that I found myself with a huge smile on my face when I read "The End". I absolutely loved these two together. So different yet made for each other. I think by the end I appreciated the fact that I hated almost every character but Gabriel and Ruby. Although I very much liked the ones at the end.
I don't want to give too much away because I really want you to read it without me giving away all the information. When I know that I'm going to write a review for a book, I don't read any previous reviews because I want mine to be my own thoughts and feelings. I really enjoyed this book. There were some moments that I felt were unnecessary but it didn't take away from the enjoyment at all. A sweet love story with some crazy characters and lots of sex. One of the things that I've come to love from this author. Another that I love are the seemingly unimportant lines that don't have great revelations or are remarkable in any way other than the fact that when I read them I'm instantly reminded why I love this authors' books.
“Can I fill out an application?” Ruby asks.
Margaret waves one hand.
“Don’t worry about it,” she says. “I haven’t gotten any better applicants.”
“Can I at least do it for practice?” Ruby asks.
Margaret just laughs.
“Sure, sweetheart,” she says.
I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review.
Gabriel is also trying to come back from a recent scandal. His chances of returning to the Secret Service hinge on this one time bodyguard job for the spoiled uptight daughter of a Senator. Little does he know that his misconceptions on this new job and what he really wants are far from the truth. He's been to war, slept with many women, and thinks that there are no surprises left to be seen. What starts out being a boring nightmare of a job ends up being a whirlwind of emotions and feelings he wasn't expecting.
While the suspense wasn't from where you'd expect it, I still felt it. The stalker part of the story wasn't what I was expecting. I kept thinking something would happen and it wouldn't. It actually went in a completely different direction and I think that I liked that more than if we'd just been given the usual.
What was expected and I would have been sad to miss was the happy ending. Thankfully this book ended on such a happy note that I found myself with a huge smile on my face when I read "The End". I absolutely loved these two together. So different yet made for each other. I think by the end I appreciated the fact that I hated almost every character but Gabriel and Ruby. Although I very much liked the ones at the end.
I don't want to give too much away because I really want you to read it without me giving away all the information. When I know that I'm going to write a review for a book, I don't read any previous reviews because I want mine to be my own thoughts and feelings. I really enjoyed this book. There were some moments that I felt were unnecessary but it didn't take away from the enjoyment at all. A sweet love story with some crazy characters and lots of sex. One of the things that I've come to love from this author. Another that I love are the seemingly unimportant lines that don't have great revelations or are remarkable in any way other than the fact that when I read them I'm instantly reminded why I love this authors' books.
“Can I fill out an application?” Ruby asks.
Margaret waves one hand.
“Don’t worry about it,” she says. “I haven’t gotten any better applicants.”
“Can I at least do it for practice?” Ruby asks.
Margaret just laughs.
“Sure, sweetheart,” she says.
I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review.
December 5, 2024
this title was evidently later republished as Safekeeping. it's unclear to me whether or not any of the story was edited at that time. i read the original.
this is clearly an early roxie noir effort. usually she does a fantastic job taking odd or unlikely situations and finding the details, nuances, and humanity that make it feel real and even likely. but this time there were too many huge plot holes, unfortunately, for it to be a good read:
*** gets spoilery **
most critically, the author never explains why ruby can't call 911 or go to the police to say she's being falsesly imprisoned. and gabriel never goes to the authorities on her behalf.
then, once ruby contacts the press, they all, even the New York Times, publish her allegations without possibly having had time to confirm any details.
then, once her father holds a press conference to manage the scandal, he simply says she's mentally ill and delusional to undercut her credibility; but there's no way the press wouldn't have demanded to speak to ruby in person at this point, but the reader is supposed to believe that he's about to get away with it, and shut it all down, and keep her imprisoned forever.
on a character level, the type of misogynist right-wing christianity is certainly real, and roxie noir tends to do a great job writing about southern country christian conservatism in a way that makes it feel real and so very oppressive. but then she failed to show how the senator could get away with running his household almost like a cult for so long; that is, we would have needed to see how he was ALSO a really compelling personality or how rhetorically he was so convincing or just seemed warm and charming . . . something. instead we get a guy who speaks vaguely about family values and is cold and controlling and inconsiderate, and thus his villainy—or that he'd wield such power and get away with his abuses for so long—doesn't feel as grounded in reality or thus as likely.
*** end spoilery section ***
the audiobook was okay. i'm not a lucy rivers fan, mostly because her guy voices always so super weirdly forced, and she tends to imbue her lady voices with an unnecessary breathiness. the guy who voiced gabriel was so-so, though he sounded a bit more Chipper Boy Scout than i thought gabriel should have.
in the end, this is a weak roxie noir effort, but even here it's clear that she has the desire to tether thrillsome situations to reality, which far too many romance writers can't grasp at all. i'm so happy she kept writing, because her later titles are quite strong, and it's been a joy to Kool-Aid Pitcher Man punch through the wall of her backlog.
this is clearly an early roxie noir effort. usually she does a fantastic job taking odd or unlikely situations and finding the details, nuances, and humanity that make it feel real and even likely. but this time there were too many huge plot holes, unfortunately, for it to be a good read:
*** gets spoilery **
most critically, the author never explains why ruby can't call 911 or go to the police to say she's being falsesly imprisoned. and gabriel never goes to the authorities on her behalf.
then, once ruby contacts the press, they all, even the New York Times, publish her allegations without possibly having had time to confirm any details.
then, once her father holds a press conference to manage the scandal, he simply says she's mentally ill and delusional to undercut her credibility; but there's no way the press wouldn't have demanded to speak to ruby in person at this point, but the reader is supposed to believe that he's about to get away with it, and shut it all down, and keep her imprisoned forever.
on a character level, the type of misogynist right-wing christianity is certainly real, and roxie noir tends to do a great job writing about southern country christian conservatism in a way that makes it feel real and so very oppressive. but then she failed to show how the senator could get away with running his household almost like a cult for so long; that is, we would have needed to see how he was ALSO a really compelling personality or how rhetorically he was so convincing or just seemed warm and charming . . . something. instead we get a guy who speaks vaguely about family values and is cold and controlling and inconsiderate, and thus his villainy—or that he'd wield such power and get away with his abuses for so long—doesn't feel as grounded in reality or thus as likely.
*** end spoilery section ***
the audiobook was okay. i'm not a lucy rivers fan, mostly because her guy voices always so super weirdly forced, and she tends to imbue her lady voices with an unnecessary breathiness. the guy who voiced gabriel was so-so, though he sounded a bit more Chipper Boy Scout than i thought gabriel should have.
in the end, this is a weak roxie noir effort, but even here it's clear that she has the desire to tether thrillsome situations to reality, which far too many romance writers can't grasp at all. i'm so happy she kept writing, because her later titles are quite strong, and it's been a joy to Kool-Aid Pitcher Man punch through the wall of her backlog.
November 8, 2023
Ruby Burgess (eldest daughter of ultra conservative South Carolina Senator Jim Burgess)
&
Gabriel Kane (bodyguard, former marine, on leave from Secret Service)
Trigger warning: there is nothing but enthusiastic consent between the primaries, but the lead female character is caught up in a cult like environment with her father as the absolute leader. The lead male character is an employee, her bodyguard. He is free to leave, but her father, a prominent senator, would likely ruin his career.
The most fucked up thing about this book is the fact that this cult like religious environment isn’t entirely fictitious. The antiquated idea that the man is the absolute leader of the household. That women should marry who their father chooses for them, then remain barefoot & pregnant, serving their husband’s every desire. That being divorced is a scarlet letter on the woman, but a man can be forgiven any indiscretion.
Ruby is divorced at 26, because her husband is/was/has always been gay. When she married at 19, she believed the church doctrine which enforced conversion therapy. Her only act of rebellion before seeking a divorce (after catching her husband with another man) was getting an IUV to ensure there would be no pregnancy (from their infrequent, passionless, orgasm free encounters).
***
Outside the oppressive environment, the love story between Ruby & Gabriel is sweet, yet passionate. Gabriel has been a bit of a manwhore in the past. His affair with a female senator put him in the tight spot where he can’t turn down the job with Senator Burgess without trashing his career.
The innocent, chaste Ruby brings out the protector in Gabriel. And their passion is explosive from the get go.
&
Gabriel Kane (bodyguard, former marine, on leave from Secret Service)
Trigger warning: there is nothing but enthusiastic consent between the primaries, but the lead female character is caught up in a cult like environment with her father as the absolute leader. The lead male character is an employee, her bodyguard. He is free to leave, but her father, a prominent senator, would likely ruin his career.
The most fucked up thing about this book is the fact that this cult like religious environment isn’t entirely fictitious. The antiquated idea that the man is the absolute leader of the household. That women should marry who their father chooses for them, then remain barefoot & pregnant, serving their husband’s every desire. That being divorced is a scarlet letter on the woman, but a man can be forgiven any indiscretion.
Ruby is divorced at 26, because her husband is/was/has always been gay. When she married at 19, she believed the church doctrine which enforced conversion therapy. Her only act of rebellion before seeking a divorce (after catching her husband with another man) was getting an IUV to ensure there would be no pregnancy (from their infrequent, passionless, orgasm free encounters).
***
Outside the oppressive environment, the love story between Ruby & Gabriel is sweet, yet passionate. Gabriel has been a bit of a manwhore in the past. His affair with a female senator put him in the tight spot where he can’t turn down the job with Senator Burgess without trashing his career.
The innocent, chaste Ruby brings out the protector in Gabriel. And their passion is explosive from the get go.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 23, 2017
Gabriel & Ruby!
I loved everything about this book. The main characters were a blast. I loved Ruby's witty responses to Gabriel. And Gabriel's filthy mouth and thoughts! I loved the storyline and there's a really great twist to the stalker. You just don't see it coming at all.
Ruby is back at her family home after a failed marriage, but somehow she's to blame for the failure, even though she's totally not. Plus now she's in danger. She has a stalker and her father, whose a Senator, decides to hire a bodyguard! Enter Gabriel! In all his deliciousness! *fan yourself*
Gabriel is on leave from the secret service and this is his way back to it! All he had to do is "protect" Ruby from her stalker. But I don't think the main threat is her stalker. It's her father!
Ruby is 26 and I'd say a little naive but that's through no fault of her own. She's practically repressed by her father's stifling religious beliefs! They're like an extreme fundamentalist cult with their beliefs. I was truly flabbergasted by everything that spewed from Senator Burgesses mouth. But all said and done, it shows how Ruby became to be the woman that she is.
I was so happy that Gabriel came into her life to help her escape. All she wanted to do was to be able to read Harry Potter, or wear jeans or just be able to go somewhere, anywhere on her own.
I loved the secret relationship her and Gabriel built. I loved how easily they connected even if Gabriel didn't agree with her living situation.
I love how she rebelled, sneaking out, buying vodka and fornication! This book gripped me from the first chapter. I couldn't put it down. I just could not read fast enough. I had to find out everything. The last 20% had my heart beating. Thought I was going to explode with anticipation! Tons of questions running through my head! Thankfully they were all answered.
I voluntarily reviewed this book in exchange for an advanced copy!
I loved everything about this book. The main characters were a blast. I loved Ruby's witty responses to Gabriel. And Gabriel's filthy mouth and thoughts! I loved the storyline and there's a really great twist to the stalker. You just don't see it coming at all.
Ruby is back at her family home after a failed marriage, but somehow she's to blame for the failure, even though she's totally not. Plus now she's in danger. She has a stalker and her father, whose a Senator, decides to hire a bodyguard! Enter Gabriel! In all his deliciousness! *fan yourself*
Gabriel is on leave from the secret service and this is his way back to it! All he had to do is "protect" Ruby from her stalker. But I don't think the main threat is her stalker. It's her father!
Ruby is 26 and I'd say a little naive but that's through no fault of her own. She's practically repressed by her father's stifling religious beliefs! They're like an extreme fundamentalist cult with their beliefs. I was truly flabbergasted by everything that spewed from Senator Burgesses mouth. But all said and done, it shows how Ruby became to be the woman that she is.
I was so happy that Gabriel came into her life to help her escape. All she wanted to do was to be able to read Harry Potter, or wear jeans or just be able to go somewhere, anywhere on her own.
I loved the secret relationship her and Gabriel built. I loved how easily they connected even if Gabriel didn't agree with her living situation.
I love how she rebelled, sneaking out, buying vodka and fornication! This book gripped me from the first chapter. I couldn't put it down. I just could not read fast enough. I had to find out everything. The last 20% had my heart beating. Thought I was going to explode with anticipation! Tons of questions running through my head! Thankfully they were all answered.
I voluntarily reviewed this book in exchange for an advanced copy!
June 4, 2017
Lunatic Wacko Fringe😵😱
This one's off the deep end! Ruby's U.S. Senator father is a lunatic religious fanatic. He got her married off to the church pastor's son and it didn't last. The son was a bad boy through and through and also gay, which was the ultimate sin, and Ruby💋👗 divorced him. Now she's living back with the family in their mansion.
In her father's 🌎world, woman are seen and not heard. They care for the home, cook, clean ,do arts and crafts, and raise children. Period.
Letters come, supposedly threatening letters and her father ,in his crazed attempt to save Ruby's soul, hires a bodyguard, Gabriel. Ruby💋 thinks her father is writing the letters!
Gabriel🐺🍌🌋👋 is a super hot stud, ex marine, now wanting into the secret service! He got into some sort of trouble in his last job and he needs this job to get straightened out. Problem is, he is smitten by Ruby💋👗 as soon has he sees her.
What is he going the do to keep her out of trouble with her wacko father and himself out of trouble too?! How is he going to keep his big hands off of Ruby💋👗, because it is obvious she could go for him, too!
The Senator tasks Gabriel with protecting Ruby spirituality, as well as physically, because at her age, she is open to sin, and he likens her to a child, who must be told what to do!
Gabriel wants to do bad naaasssty things🍌🌋👋 to Ruby, and it appears she is ready, willing, and wanting to reciprocate! He's her ultimate alpha bad boy sex toy!🐺🍌🌋👋
Throughout their top secret bedroom games, Ruby💋👗 has a stalker. He keeps sending the creepy letters that her father reads and shows to Gabriel, adding more security as the letters get weirder and weirder.
This erotic alpha male romance🐺🍌🌋 has a good story and plenty of crazy lust🍌💓💋 between the two main characters.
Gabriel🐺🍌🌋 is one tall 🔥hot stud that can't seem to keep his big Johnson🍌 in his jeans👖 when Ruby's around!
YEHAW! Ride em Bareback, Cowgirl!🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎
This one's off the deep end! Ruby's U.S. Senator father is a lunatic religious fanatic. He got her married off to the church pastor's son and it didn't last. The son was a bad boy through and through and also gay, which was the ultimate sin, and Ruby💋👗 divorced him. Now she's living back with the family in their mansion.
In her father's 🌎world, woman are seen and not heard. They care for the home, cook, clean ,do arts and crafts, and raise children. Period.
Letters come, supposedly threatening letters and her father ,in his crazed attempt to save Ruby's soul, hires a bodyguard, Gabriel. Ruby💋 thinks her father is writing the letters!
Gabriel🐺🍌🌋👋 is a super hot stud, ex marine, now wanting into the secret service! He got into some sort of trouble in his last job and he needs this job to get straightened out. Problem is, he is smitten by Ruby💋👗 as soon has he sees her.
What is he going the do to keep her out of trouble with her wacko father and himself out of trouble too?! How is he going to keep his big hands off of Ruby💋👗, because it is obvious she could go for him, too!
The Senator tasks Gabriel with protecting Ruby spirituality, as well as physically, because at her age, she is open to sin, and he likens her to a child, who must be told what to do!
Gabriel wants to do bad naaasssty things🍌🌋👋 to Ruby, and it appears she is ready, willing, and wanting to reciprocate! He's her ultimate alpha bad boy sex toy!🐺🍌🌋👋
Throughout their top secret bedroom games, Ruby💋👗 has a stalker. He keeps sending the creepy letters that her father reads and shows to Gabriel, adding more security as the letters get weirder and weirder.
This erotic alpha male romance🐺🍌🌋 has a good story and plenty of crazy lust🍌💓💋 between the two main characters.
Gabriel🐺🍌🌋 is one tall 🔥hot stud that can't seem to keep his big Johnson🍌 in his jeans👖 when Ruby's around!
YEHAW! Ride em Bareback, Cowgirl!🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎
July 17, 2021
3.5 Stars
This story was definitely new for me, I’ve never really read a romance involving a religious cult. Although the first half of this was a tad bit slow for me, it at least picked up towards the second half.
Ruby just came off an arranged marriage and is now back under her father’s roof who happens to be the senator and a devout member of their town’s religious group. This group was pretty black and white and are hella strict about their doctrines, to the point that they shun anyone who goes against them. It actually weirded me out a bit, especially when it came to Ruby’s family. They were like borderline Mormons! It was insane and a tad bit creepy. Anyway, Ruby has suddenly acquired a stalker who’s been sending really nasty and threatening letters, so her father decides to hire her a bodyguard. Enter Gabriel. Gabriel has been in the military and now secret service, but a scandal lands him in hot waters, so he needed that job with the senator to give him back his credibility as well as earn some money. A glowing reference from the senator after this job would be a huge help to his career, which is on the brink of death. But what he didn’t expect was his immediate attraction to Ruby. And here comes the forbidden romance.
Although we don’t get that much out of the romance, since you know, they’re not really allowed to go on dates and converse much, I still enjoyed their time together — albeit those being stolen time in the dark after hours. Their sneaking in and out of each other’s arms after midnight gave those suspenseful vibes, which is what made this interesting. I guess you’ll just have to read on to see whether or not they get caught and whether or not Ruby gets to escape her father’s clutches. The last few chapters were a pretty fun time for me, that’s all I’ll say. I just really wish there was more to their romance other than really hot sex (which, I’ll be honest, were really hot).
This story was definitely new for me, I’ve never really read a romance involving a religious cult. Although the first half of this was a tad bit slow for me, it at least picked up towards the second half.
Ruby just came off an arranged marriage and is now back under her father’s roof who happens to be the senator and a devout member of their town’s religious group. This group was pretty black and white and are hella strict about their doctrines, to the point that they shun anyone who goes against them. It actually weirded me out a bit, especially when it came to Ruby’s family. They were like borderline Mormons! It was insane and a tad bit creepy. Anyway, Ruby has suddenly acquired a stalker who’s been sending really nasty and threatening letters, so her father decides to hire her a bodyguard. Enter Gabriel. Gabriel has been in the military and now secret service, but a scandal lands him in hot waters, so he needed that job with the senator to give him back his credibility as well as earn some money. A glowing reference from the senator after this job would be a huge help to his career, which is on the brink of death. But what he didn’t expect was his immediate attraction to Ruby. And here comes the forbidden romance.
Although we don’t get that much out of the romance, since you know, they’re not really allowed to go on dates and converse much, I still enjoyed their time together — albeit those being stolen time in the dark after hours. Their sneaking in and out of each other’s arms after midnight gave those suspenseful vibes, which is what made this interesting. I guess you’ll just have to read on to see whether or not they get caught and whether or not Ruby gets to escape her father’s clutches. The last few chapters were a pretty fun time for me, that’s all I’ll say. I just really wish there was more to their romance other than really hot sex (which, I’ll be honest, were really hot).
May 24, 2017
Gabriel Kane retired from the military and became a Secret Service agent. He got into some trouble with a married congresswoman and was given leave from the secret service and now is a body guard for Senator Burgess' daughter, Ruby. This is his chance to redeem himself and get his job back at the Secret Service. He just has to keep it in his pants until they can find the stalker.
Ruby has been getting threatening letters in the mail and her father hires Gabriel to protect her. Not that she gets to read the letters. Her father is a Control Freak and doesn't think that she is strong enough to know what they say, just that she has been getting them. He is very religious or "cultish" in his beliefs. Woman should stay at home, cook, clean and have babies. They don't need a proper education, are told what they can and can not wear, what is appropriate reading material and are there to serve the man. Ruby was married to the Reverend's son, Lucas, who was gay, when she was nineteen. Lucas was sent three times to what is equivalent to a "heterosexuality boot camp". Of course, her father and the Reverend assured her that he was "reformed" so she agreed to marry him. That didn't work out so well. Now, at age twenty six, she is divorced and living with her parents under constant supervision.
This was a good read. I liked the chemistry between Gabriel and Ruby. That was defiantly hot! When you find out who the stalker was, it's kind of anticlimactic. I kept thinking I knew who it was, but you will be totally surprised!! Also, what I didn't think was possible was Gabriel's lack of funds. He was a secret service agent for two years. Unless he doesn't know how to manage his money he should have more than $2000.00 in a savings account! The ending is sweet and they have their HEA.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
Ruby has been getting threatening letters in the mail and her father hires Gabriel to protect her. Not that she gets to read the letters. Her father is a Control Freak and doesn't think that she is strong enough to know what they say, just that she has been getting them. He is very religious or "cultish" in his beliefs. Woman should stay at home, cook, clean and have babies. They don't need a proper education, are told what they can and can not wear, what is appropriate reading material and are there to serve the man. Ruby was married to the Reverend's son, Lucas, who was gay, when she was nineteen. Lucas was sent three times to what is equivalent to a "heterosexuality boot camp". Of course, her father and the Reverend assured her that he was "reformed" so she agreed to marry him. That didn't work out so well. Now, at age twenty six, she is divorced and living with her parents under constant supervision.
This was a good read. I liked the chemistry between Gabriel and Ruby. That was defiantly hot! When you find out who the stalker was, it's kind of anticlimactic. I kept thinking I knew who it was, but you will be totally surprised!! Also, what I didn't think was possible was Gabriel's lack of funds. He was a secret service agent for two years. Unless he doesn't know how to manage his money he should have more than $2000.00 in a savings account! The ending is sweet and they have their HEA.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
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