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A Ward Security Novella

Wade Addams has built a new life he loves. It’s far removed from the one he led as a kid under his brother’s evil thumb. Forced to jack cars, he ended up in juvie. Now, ten years later, he works as a server at Rialto where he feels like part of the family.

His brother’s release from prison threatens to destroy it all.

Fewer trips and time to date made Jackson Kent leave the high profile security firm he worked for in L.A. and accept the primo job offer from Ward Security. He’s heard great things about the Cincinnati firm. But he never expected to meet someone like Wade his first day on the job.

Sparks fly as these two work together to keep Wade safe and send his brother back to prison where he belongs!

92 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 27, 2018

169 people are currently reading
328 people want to read

About the author

Jocelynn Drake

141 books2,898 followers
New York Times Bestselling author Jocelynn Drake loves a good story, whether she is reading it or writing one of her own. Over the years, her stories have allowed her to explore space, talk to dragons, dodge bullets with assassins, hang with vampires, and fall in love again and again.

This former Kentucky girl has moved up, down, and across the U.S. with her husband. Recently, they’ve settled near the Rockies.

When she is not hammering away at her keyboard or curled up with a book, she can be
walking her dog Ace, or playing video games. She loves Bruce Wayne, Ezio Auditore, travel, tattoos, explosions, and fast cars.

She is the author of the urban fantasy books: The Dark Days series and the Asylum Tales. For gay romance, she has completed The Exit Strategy and Shadow Elite series, and is now working on a spin-off of her MM paranormal series, Lords of Discord. She has also co-authored with Rinda Elliot the following series: Unbreakable Bonds, Ward Security, Pineapple Grove, the Weavers Circle. In addition, she has co-authored with AJ Sherwood the following series: Scales 'N' Spell and Wings 'N' Wands. She can be found at JocelynnDrake.com.

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5 stars
416 (33%)
4 stars
471 (38%)
3 stars
288 (23%)
2 stars
50 (4%)
1 star
5 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
Profile Image for * A Reader Obsessed *.
2,712 reviews581 followers
April 11, 2023
3.5 Stars!

A great little novella featuring one of Ian’s waiters, Wade, whose past comes back to cause a lot of unwanted trouble. Of course, Wade is going to need a bodyguard, and isn’t it fortuitous and convenient that Rowe has new hire Jackson, all ready to show his boss he can handle any and everything.

This was a lot of fun despite the literal lightning quick connection and hook up between these two. However, if you want 2 smexy scenes with a nice dose of Rowe and Noah shenanigans then don’t miss this little interlude!

Profile Image for Meags.
2,492 reviews703 followers
September 27, 2023
3.5 Stars

My lazy weekend needed a little adrenaline buzz and this Ward Security short story hit the proverbial spot.

Hurt-comfort and alpha-protectiveness is the name of the game here, as Rialto’s waifish waiter, Wade, finds himself in need of help when his deadbeat brother is released from prison and comes after him for perceived wrongs from their childhood.

Ward Securities latest recruit, Jackson, gets tasked with protecting Wade until the trouble is sorted, but instant attraction between the two makes Jackson’s job harder (among other things), as he tries desperately to keep Wade safe, while they poorly fight the temptations that come with forced proximity.

This was short and sweet, with just the right amount of angst and excitement to make it a one-sitting kind of read. Wade and Jackson were lovely together—it's just a shame they didn’t get even more page time, because this flavour of hurt-comfort/suspense storytelling never gets old for me.
Profile Image for Bev .
2,242 reviews486 followers
February 25, 2019
Way to pull me back to a series that was kind of losing me. Rally enjoyed this short.
Profile Image for Susan.
2,360 reviews460 followers
January 1, 2021
Re-read December 2020

---------------------------

What a lovely short. A bit rushed maybe, but still so much hurt/comfort I didn't care about the fact that this was basically the insta-est of insta-love.

Wade is a waiter at Ian's restaurant. He got into trouble when he was a teenager when his brother forced him to steal cars with him. Wade spend a year in juvie, but his brother got 15 years, since he was already an adult.

But one night when Wade gets home from his shift, he finds his brother in his bedroom. Turns out they released him after 9 years. He is now threathening Wade again, and telling him to steal from Rialto, Ian's restaurant.

So when Wade goes back to Rialto the next day he is determined. Determined to protect Ian and everyone at Rialto at all cost. So he quits. Or tries to. Because Ian won't just let him go. When he sees how upset Wade is, he coaxes the story out of him. And of course Ian immediately calls Rowe to have someone protect Wade.

Jackson has just started working for Ward Security, and he didn't expect to fall for the first person he needs to protect. But Jackson and Wade share amazing chemistry, so there's no ignoring that....

This was a short that tried to include everything. And yes, that means there is so much insta-love here that these guys were practically married after the first meeting. But hey, I just went with it. With this much hurt/comfort going on, how could I not love this?
Profile Image for *J* Too Many Books Too Little Time.
1,921 reviews3,720 followers
September 4, 2018
3.5 Stars!

A bit insta-lovey, as this series is prone to being. Even a bit more so since this one was a novella.

But still overall pretty enjoyable and entertaining with likable characters.
Profile Image for Sabrina.
595 reviews265 followers
October 28, 2018
I honestly want more books.
I shouldn’t have read this because I want more. Not that I didn’t want it before starting this novella but now, I want even more.
Profile Image for Jennifer☠Pher☠.
2,970 reviews274 followers
September 24, 2018
Go figure.

I liked this. This spin-off has been hit or miss for me and here we get the free shorty and I am into it.

I went to go start Sadistic Sherlock and totally forgot this had come out and I had yet to read it. I'm glad I stopped and took the time to read this shorty, now I just wish it had been longer.

Welcome to Ward Security Jackson!
Profile Image for Vanna.
816 reviews97 followers
August 17, 2019
3.5 stars!! 💕 Nice low angst short featuring a new Ward Security employee Jackson who falls for his client Wade, (as per Ward Security Dating Service 😳😉) who is a waiter in Rialto (Ian's restaurant). Wade has had a tough childhood but in the last decade he has cleaned up his criminal past and is living a fulfilling life; till his estranged and imprisoned brother shows up literally in his house threatening his life and the lives of all his friends unless he manages to give him a huge sum of money. Wade confides in Ian and lands himself with Rowe's protection in the shape of the hunky security guard, Jackson.😍. After some thrills, action and plenty of steam; they finally get their very own HEA..💝 👍👍
Profile Image for Bookreader87(Amanda).
1,168 reviews44 followers
August 29, 2018
I seem to have a thing for these authors shorts and this one is no different.

Wade a server at Ian's restaurant is in need of help when his older brother comes threatening to ruin his lively hood. Ian enlist the help of his friend Rowe's security service. A new bodyguard, Jackson, has just been hired and Rowe places him on the job.

Let's just say Ward Security dating service is back in action and working faster than ever. It took less than 24 hours for these two to hook up. Hey, I am not complaining it was enjoyable to read lol ;-)
Profile Image for Steven.
175 reviews18 followers
August 29, 2018


I often find it difficult to put into words my thoughts regarding short stories and novellas. There’s a lot of ground to cover in only a few words. Is enough background given to fully flesh out the characters? Are plot points justified and followed through to a satisfying conclusion? Short form fiction, regardless the genre can be tricky and often the stories can be, well, anemic.

This is where Drake and Elliott succeed. They’ve given us two fully realized characters with a (very) short but (very) sweet lead into a relationship. The thing that makes it work is the fact that the characters are in on it. They’re well aware that an almost instantaneously falling in love isn’t the most rational thing to do. But these two men are in such need for an anchor, a strong bond that when it happens the reader goes,”Yep. Totally plausible.”

And after all is said and done isn’t that why we read romance? We want our characters to fall head over heals - without remorse and only the slightest hesitation?

My only issue is that I really want more of Wade and Jackson. Like, they could have their own full length *hints to Rinda and Jocelynn*

4.5 stars
Profile Image for Cadiva.
4,013 reviews447 followers
October 28, 2018
A perfect bite size snippet of the Ward Security series released as part of the epic Back to School Instafreebie giveaway.

Wade is the sweetest of guys, unwilling to hurt his boss Ian, who gave him a chance and a job at Rialto, when his douchebag brother is released early from jail.

He ends up with the gorgeous Jackson watching over him and the usual antics ensue, with hilarious interventions from Rowe and Noah, to a full on bad guys take down and some steamy and emotional connections between the two men.

Ward Dating Service truly does strike again. Now bring on #Dominabe :)
Profile Image for Denise H..
3,250 reviews271 followers
June 2, 2019
***** I am an avid fan of these authors and the Unbreakable Bonds and Ward Security series.
I adore the men, Rowe, Lucas, Ian, Snow, Andrea, Jude, Hollis, Noah, and the sexy bodyguards, plus the awesome action, adventures, love and humor.

* Wade works for Ian's resaurant, and when Wade's brother gets out of jail, all hell breaks loose. Newly aquired bodyguard at Ward Security, Jackson, steps in to keep Wade safe.



We get everything we like, from anticipation, new kisses, hot, sweaty, sexy men meeting their match, and action/violence, too.
A marvelous novella that fits right in with the series. Each story can stand alone.

Highly recommended. ENJOY !

======
Profile Image for Lyndy Ann ♫.
672 reviews
September 4, 2018
Ward Dating Service strikes again with a quick steamy OTT  short read between Wade and Jackson.

Wade works for Ian at Rialto and Jackson is the new guy at Ward Security, Rowe and Noah bring the comedy as always.

LOVED IT
Profile Image for Sheri.
1,418 reviews196 followers
October 11, 2018
At first, I wasn't so sure...but before long I couldn't put it down.
And now I need to read the rest of the series!
THIS is why I grab novella freebies. Looking forward to getting to know the rest of the gang.

*3.5 stars*
Profile Image for haletostilinski.
1,530 reviews664 followers
October 22, 2018
A nice, quick story about a new member at Ward Security, Jackson, and Wade, a waiter at Ian's restaurant who needs protection after his psychotic brother gets out of prison.

While it's a different situation and all, Wade and his brother was a little similar to Dominic and his twin brother from the 4th book in the series, in that they both had a psychotic brother who was coming after them to hurt them. Not exactly the same, and things happen a lot differently, but still similar.

But it was still a fun, enjoyable quick read and Jackson and Wade had chemistry and were cute together. It would have been interesting to actually get a full book of them.
Profile Image for Mirjana **DTR - Down to Read**.
1,483 reviews811 followers
September 3, 2018

***2 Stars***

Ooooh boy I struggled with this one. While I'm not a hater of insta at all, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't....here it really didn't work for me. I barely felt any chemistry between Jackson and Wade and add in that they were already thinking about love and forever within 24 hours of meeting each other....the eyes they were a rolling.

And the over the top villainous characterization of Wade's brother was just way too much for me.

Overall, this book suffered from being too short, too over the top, and too rushed.

Profile Image for BevS.
2,858 reviews2 followers
February 24, 2019
3.5 stars rounded up. Nice little freebie from Jocelynn and Rinda, featuring Wade who works for Ian at the Rialto restaurant and is being threatened by his thoroughly nasty ex jailbird of a brother [ugh!!] and Jackson, a hot new employee of Ward Security. Nice to see that Rowe and Noah are kept happy by coloured duct tape and tasers 😁.
Profile Image for Jessica Frances.
Author 29 books404 followers
November 11, 2018
Jackson is a short novella bite-sized story in the Ward Security series. It was hot, well written, and with just a bit of suspense thrown in. I would definitely recommend if you are looking to read an hour away with two hot men.
Profile Image for Yi1ian.
849 reviews15 followers
September 26, 2018
Instalust and talk of instalove.

Normally, the Shiver series is a box of chocolates and is meant to be savored. This book was a puff of cotton candy to be inhaled and tossed away before the sugar coma hits.
Profile Image for Lynn.
1,038 reviews47 followers
October 21, 2019
Family drama taken to the next level in this Ward Security novella. Wade and Jackson succumb of course to the match making of the company and leave the room very steamy. I love visiting all the characters in this world, no matter the length of the story. Suspense filled, friends that are family, and romance that is hot and sweet stirred perfectly.
Profile Image for Marthea.
1,016 reviews15 followers
May 14, 2021
Zdecydowanie za krótkie...
Był tutaj potencjał na całą wypasioną książkę i wtedy miałoby to ręce i nogi - i to może nawet wymiatające.
A tak wyszło pobieżnie i mało satysfakcjonująco...
Profile Image for Natalie  H.
3,817 reviews30 followers
October 21, 2020
For me this one gave me the same feeling as B from the Unbreakable boys series. It’s Jackson’s first day so loosely connected with the character for now and has that outsider looking in feel. Short, pretty much insta love and little drama apart from the psycho brother. Appearances from Ian, Rowe and Noah. Shook my head when Jackson questioned the code names. Favourite part was Noah calling the company a dating service.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews

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