Looking After Lizzy

by Laura Hart

When ex-marine Mark finds his redheaded neighbor crying in her car one night, his rescue instinct kicks in. It turns out that she's moved to a small town to try and get over her parents' deaths. Surprised to discover that Liz's father used domestic discipline on his thirty-five-year-old daughter, Mark has doubts about whether or not he wants to get more involved, but he has a weakness for redheads. Mark is determined to protect Lizzy, even as her ex begins stalking her and putting her in danger. What will it take for him to win Liz's trust? Can he give this petite redhead the normal life she's never had? Publisher’s This steamy romance contains elements of danger, suspense, sensual scenes and power exchange. If any of these offend you, please do not purchase.

220 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 9, 2018

Reviews

[SmallRain · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have liked this author’s other books and did like this one but not as much as her others. This relationship is so fraught with possible disasters. Lizzie or Liz has been brought up in a home that practiced CDD and her father spanked her (in a set ritual) until he died and Lizzie was about 34 . He spanked her during her marriage to an impossible man and the spanking ritual kept her feeling safe and protected. Mark come into a very emotionally dangerous situation. If he rejects her she likely will never recover. Would she ever make a good life partner? Mark finds out about the spanking ritual and has to decide if he wants to carry on with this ritual in order to keep Lizzie feeling loved and safe even though it is somewhat distasteful to him. I don’t for one second think this relationship would work out in real life. For those who don’t know Christian Domestic Discipline is still advocated by some fundamentalist churches. The woman is considered to have an inherently fallen nature which thus makes her very likely to misbehave and the husband must assert his dominance and superiority over her and spank her often to keep her *soft* and submissive. I consider this domestic abuse and consider it abhorrent. This is my personal view .

[Heart5 · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Mark and Lizzy meet, she is at a very low point in life. Her parents have recently died and she's been forced to moved to a new area to escape her ex husband. The protector in Mark is immediately drawn to her vulnerability. As the story unravels, the author reveals a truly bizarre, and abusive past for Lizzy.

I enjoyed this story. Lizzie's life has not been her own thanks to an abusive husband and overbearing father. She quickly becomes a character that you want to see succeed. I love that Mark was willing to step in and help her battle her low self esteem. This story is a bit darker than the author's previous books, but I still really enjoyed reading it. I'm not sure if this is a series or a standalone, but I would definitely like to read more from this couple.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

[ajjmb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking After Lizzy is a very poignant story of a young woman who has had a strict upbringing by a stern disciplinarian of a father. That isn’t what is so bad. It is the husband that abuses her for year before leaving her a crushed spirit of a woman. Mark happens upon Lizzie and he is pulled to this woman. He becomes what she needs and helps Lizzie to heal from the shell of a woman she has become into a lovely mischievous sprite who can love Mark as he loves her. I really liked this story and would love to see a sequel. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book, Ms. Hart tells the story adding in important details as the story unfolds. All is not as it initially seems in Lizzy’s life. Mark is inexplicably drawn to her vulnerability and feels pulled to protect her. I love the ways he helps her navigate feeling safe. I loved this book and although the book was definitely not ended on a cliffhanger, I really wanted more. I feel there is more to their story how they continue to move forward down a new path.

[Joanie M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Lizzy is an unusual character who is unused to standing on her own two feet after having her father and her ex-husband tell her what to do. Mark is a more typical dominant male character, whose protective instincts are triggered by Lizzy. What starts as friendship morphs into a domestic discipline romance. The well-written story is entertaining with elements of danger and suspense. I highly recommend it.

[Emma bramley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing read. I just couldn't put this book down till I'd finished it. This author has a fantastic way of bringing you important details as and when you need them. I was left wanting more when I'd finished. Amazing characters that you just fall in love with as you read. I can't wait to read more from this author in the future.



Highly recommended author

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book
www.obsessedbookreviews.blogspot.co.uk

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book. When Mark meets redheaded Lizzy, he is very attracted to her. She has been burned and although attracted, is leary. Mark is shocked to learn that her father still disciplined Lizzy at 35. Does she have too many issues for him? Can he live with her rigid rules for discipline and give her what she needs?

[Goldienut · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mark is an ex-marine and Lizzy is a young woman that Mark's dog
tries to approach knowing something is wrong. Mark tries to aid Lizzy
and finds himself falling for Lizzy. Mark an security specialist determines
to keep her safe from her ex. This story has a lot of twists and turns.
You really must read this novel.

[Laila Viking · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not what I expected after reading the blurb. But it has a lot going on. It is filled with drama, danger, stalking ex, protective ex-marine, abusiveness/discipline issues and emotions all over. Absolutely a story where the hero has to save the heroin from her past or continue with it. What will he do?
Enjoyable read.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a different type of story with ex-marine Mark being an Alpha but he does not believe in old-fashioned discipline and Liz's deceased Father did. A well-written story that I enjoyed reading. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[evieo17 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always enjoy a book about a hot Marine and Mark is definitely hot. I Loved him. Lizzy not so much. I know she has issues but there were times I just wanted to smack her.

[Kitty_ranma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Looking after Lizzy.
This is a good book that took me a bit too get into. A warning this could have triggers for some (daddy issues). I really want to say more but I'm bitting my metaphorical tongue. I absolutely hate spoilers, so I won't go into details.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Happily Ever After, Romantic, Wonderful characters, Original, Steamy.
Bookshelves/tags:
adult, angst, contemporary, domestic-discipline, romance, spanking.
This book was given to me at my request from the publisher or author and I provided this unbiased voluntary review.