The Protective One

Cami's Billionaire Bride Pact #4

by Cami Checketts

Sweet romance by bestselling inspirational author, Cami Checketts
Betrayed by an FBI agent while in protective custody, MacKenzie Gunthrie escapes a crime lord and is left hiding from the authorities and her enemies. She finds solace in the peaceful mountain town of Crested Butte, Colorado. With help from a longtime girl's camp friend and a new identity, she's starting to feel safe. The only problem is the overconfident and much too good-looking Isaac Turnbow. Protecting identity has become second nature, but Isaac poses a threat to her heart.
Isaac Turnbow has an undeniable need to convince MacKenzie he’s someone she can trust and kiss, but when well-armed men arrive to disturb their budding relationship, he must prove to her and himself that he can protect her.
This fast-paced, clean Billionaire Bride Pact Romance is a fun and touching read you won’t be able to put down.
Bonus chapters by Lucy McConnell and Jeanette Lewis.

Genres: Romance, Clean Romance, Suspense, Audiobook, Contemporary, Christian, Fiction

Audiobook

Published August 8, 2017

About the author

Cami Checketts is a USA Today Bestselling author of over a hundred clean romance novels. Her journey began on an Idaho dairy farm daydreaming book ideas on her bike or tractor and landing herself in the hospital numerous times for head wounds. She settled down after college (retired the bike at least) to raise four crazy boys and write down all those fabulous ideas. Cami's life is busy but she thoroughly enjoys rarely living in reality.

Cami loves the Savior, her husband, her boys, her daughter-in-law, her grandson, traveling, chocolate, and exercise.

Get a free book when you sign up for Cami's VAP (Very Awesome People) list - www.camichecketts.com

Reviews

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

If the cover isn't enough to convince you to read this book (those shoes!!), then let me just say that this is one you don't want to miss. Cami Checketts has put together a romantic suspense with plenty of sparks zinging between the characters.

This book is part of the Billionaire Bride Pact series, written by a few different authors. Each story follows a different person in a group of friends. This is MacKenzie's story. I love this series because it's the perfect escape. Each story has it's own style and feel yet they are all linked together with the common friendship between the main characters. You don't have to read these in any particular order.

I read through this one fast! It was hard to put down. MacKenzie drove me a little nuts but it all came out right in the end and Isaac steals the show! I really loved him- especially when he threw a punch into Brad's face. It may not have endeared MacKenzie to him, but that's when I knew Issac was the best. :)

This is a fun addition to this series that I love!

Content: Clean, some mild violence

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Kathy Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

MacKenzie had a pretty good life until one night while out running she witnesses a murder. She is now in protective custody until the murderer can be apprehended and charged. But one of the FBI agents is a mole and has leaked her location. Now on the run to save her life, she heads to the small town of Crested Butte to stay with her friend Haley until the murderer is caught or until she can figure out who she can trust.

Isaac had a huge crush on Mac when she was 14 years old but hasn't seen her in years. When she shows up all these years later, those same feelings resurface... only stronger. She's still the same beautiful, amazing girl she was back then, but there is something different. Something has happened and he has the overwhelming need to protect her. If only she would trust him and open up to him about what has her running scared over the smallest things.

Mac is confused about her feelings for Isaac. One minute she's wanting to be around him and the next she wants nothing to do with him. During her on again, off again feelings for Isaac, she meets Brad... the scum of the earth who took advantage of Haley and is Taz's father. He does his best to try and weasle his way into her life but can't keep his true self hidden for long... once a snake, always a snake.

With Brad out of the picture and her feelings for Isaac growing stronger than ever, she discovers that the murderer has landed in Colorado and has gone off grid. To protect Isaac and his family she flees again. But how far can she get on her own? And what will Isaac do when he discovers she has disappeared without a trace? His protective nature becomes even stronger and he will do anything and everything he can to protect the woman he loves.

I have to admit I had a hard time connecting with Mac for the first half of the book. She was giving me whiplash with all the back and forth with her feelings. I was starting to feel sorry for Isaac and may have told him a few times to walk away! Lol. But once her secret was out, she grew on me and I ended up liking her. And I may or may not have done a little happy dance when Brad finally got what was coming to him... stupid scumbag!

The Protective One is a great addition to The Billionaire Bride Pact series. I really have enjoyed these books. I'm looking forward to rereading them again once all the books have been released... I think it would be fun to have a binge read... ;)

Cami Checketts has definitely become an auto-buy author for me. I don't even read the synopsis anymore before purchasing them. Hehe. I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next! :)

As for my casting... I went back and forth between a couple of options but settled on this one. I really like these two! :)

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cami Checketts always writes such fantastic romantic suspense books and this one is no exception. For the most part, this Billionaire Bride Pact series has been fairly light-hearted, but this one jumps right into a very tense situation that had me wondering what in the world was going on. MacKenzie has witnessed a horrific murder and is now on the run. Her old camp friend, Haley, offers her some protection in a beautiful, small, Colorado town.

I cannot even imagine having to constantly look over my should, as MacKenzie has to do. She's a very dedicated person and one who thrives on routine, which resonates with me, as I'm a creature of habit. Isaac, Haley's older brother, is very overprotective--almost to a fault. But really...how can that trait be a weakness when her best interest is at heart? I'll tell you that it can be--especially when that flaw causes some very swoony moments and sparks of chemistry. I loved the banter and flirting, but felt that at times, MacKenzie was a tad bit rebellious towards the advice given to her. She was very fickle with her feelings and decisions.

I wanted to see just a little more of the other camp friends, but thought it was great how different relationships gradually grew, or fell apart, throughout the story. This is a good installment in this fun series. I love how individual each story is.

Content: mild, swoony romance (kissing, some innuendo, a vague mention of rape); mild violence (murder, attacks--not graphic). Clean!

*I received a copy in exchange for an honest review*

[Julie Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these Billionaire Bride Pact romances. Sweet, clean, witty, suspenseful, and a great group of friends! I've kinda read them randomly and not in the order of publication. They work as stand alones if you read them like I have. The same characters are mentioned throughout the series and if it's a later book and a friend/bride from an earlier novel has been married then her groom is in the book too. This one was fun because it's quite a ways into the series so some of the other brides I'd previously read about were in the story a little bit too.

I think so far this one might be my favorite! But I just got The Feisty One and it's a Beauty and the Beast retelling(and I'm a lover of all things B&B) so I might be changing my opinion on this being my favorite. We'll soon see though.

The Protective One opens with a bang! Full speed intensity and MacKenzie is on the run. She witnessed something and has been in FBI custody until everything can be resolved. Just when she thinks she's safe, her world spins out from under her again and she flees to the one place where she thinks she can be protected, but it's also the one place where her heart was broken years ago. She'll just have to be extra careful not to let her heart be involved and all will be well.

Isaac can't believe his luck when MacKenzie shows up needing a place to spend some "vacation" time. He blew it years ago and hopes he can make it all work now....except every time he opens his mouth he says the wrong thing. Why can't he just stop messing everything up and get MacKenzie to listen to him.

This was a great read with suspense looming over your head the whole time. MacKenzie doesn't tell anyone why she is there except for a vacation. She can't chance anyone else finding out about her. Yet it seems that every turn she makes is the wrong turn. She wants to trust her heart but if she does that again she'll be hurt...or dead.

I loved the adventures these two experienced throughout this book and the softening of their hearts. The aha reveal moments were sweet and swoony. Just when I thought everything was over, the author threw some more twists in for us. It was deliciously sweet with just enough tart to keep us on edge. Hee Hee! Oh and the banter between Isaac and MacKenzie was so fun. I had many moments where I was laughing out loud or trying really hard to contain it to a silent chuckle when it was night time and my family was sleeping.

I love the covers and this one has one of my favorite pairs of shoes from the covers. My teenage daughter drools over all the shoes on the covers when she sees what I'm reading. I love it!

Content: some fighting, nothing graphic. Some violence in a crime that MacKenzie witnesses. Some swoony kisses but nothing further. Overall I'd say it's a clean read.

I got a copy from a group book promotion. No review was required. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

so. i hate this story. the H is amazing but the h continually dates a serial rapist. a man she knows, was told by her best friend, raped her best friend, fathered her bffs child. he got away with the rape since his father owns the town and pays everyone off. she continually ignores her friend and friends brother. she decides that her friend was just making the whole rape up. that brad is the victim and falsely accused. FOR NO F*ING REASON ECCEPT THE RAPIST SAYS HER BFFS FAMILY HATES HIM.

i just don't get it. she's an f*ing idiot. i might actually stop this one. its God aweful.

all because h is mad the H didn't call her over 10 years ago after a kiss and didn't make a big deal when they met again. like i said i want to o punch her.

if i was the BFF, I'd kick her freeloading ass out of my house and hire a loyal person to run my business while I'm away. she had absolutely no loyalty to her supposed bff.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Protective One: A Billionaire Bride Pact Romance book 7 is by Cami Checketts, Jeanette Lewis, Lucy McConnell, and Taylor Hart. MacKenzie Gunthrie is one of the twelve girls at Camp Wallakee who swore the Billionaire Bride Pact. Each girl swore she would marry a billionaire and if she didn´t, she would sing the Camp Wallakee song. MacKenzie thought the pact was now just a joke. She had better things to think about.
MacKenzie was a second-grade teacher who was out for the summer. She was training for the Spartan competition and was very serious about her training. She was out late one evening running when she came upon Soloman Squire and his brother cutting up a man. She managed to call 911 and in the ensuing commotion, Soloman´s brother was killed and Soloman escaped. He blamed MacKenzie for his brother´s death. Now he was after her. Where could she hide and be safe? She ended up in Crested Butte with Haley Turnbow.
Isaac was Haley´s brother. He was left to watch MacKenzie as she took over Haley´s store in Crested Butte. He was to be there just in case she needed anything. Isaac had remembered MacKenzie immediately. The last time he saw her, he was seventeen and he kissed her. He still remembered that kiss and wanted more. However, he had managed to make her mad at him and now she wouldn´t talk to him. However, he knew something was wrong and wanted to know what it was so he could help her. Could he help?
This book is definitely full of action.

[Macy · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF I cannot believe a female author could write such pathetic female characters. MacKenzie is ridiculous and that she doesn't believe all of the stuff she's told about Brad the rapist is just an inkling as to what a gross person she is. And what is the deal with Isaac falling forever? No, this was in my opinion a horrible unbelievable and just silly excuse of a crime story and romance. Save yourself.

[Pascale’s*ARC,Unwind,Read,Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Protective One

- I love romantic suspense stories, and Cami Checketts is the best at writing them! This one is more romantic than suspenseful, but there's plenty of action in it, with "good guys" and "bad guys". I love the FBI storyline, of being in witness protection. The idea of being protected by a strong, gorgeous, kind guy -swoon-worthy!
In this story, we have some brief appearances and mentions of characters from the other billionaire pact novellas, helping to tie in relationships between the camp friends in the series. (Although this is part of a series, each story is written by a different author and none of them end on a cliffhanger, so they can be read in any order, although it is preferential to read them in order so that the reader doesn't inadvertently find out ahead of time who ends up with whom.)
Isaac is Haley's brother, whom Mackenzie went to camp with years ago. (Cal and Haley are an important part of this story also.) Isaac was the one to give Mackenzie her first kiss years ago and she never forgot it... But when she comes back ten years later, he accuses her of being a gold-digger!
Surprise! In this story the guy isn't a billionaire! So does that mean Mackenzie will have to sing the silly camp song?? Guess readers will have to read the story to find out!
This is a clean romance. I loved this story and highly recommend it. 5 stars.

[Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hated MacKenzie from beginning to end of this story. She's an abrasive, ungrateful, stupid woman. She puts her friend & her family in danger without telling them; then she doubts their word about Haley's rapist and actually dates the man! She was horrible to Isaac from the beginning when he'd done nothing but be nice to her. I was really hoping either the mob boss, dirty FBI agent, or rapist would just kill her and end the story. She was truly awful so there was no hope for this book.
On a side note, Brad did nothing but provide some bad guy information so there was nothing to arrest him on. It was pitiful to think the readers would buy into him being arrested and going away for a long time over nothing. But I guess that aspect had to be wrapped up as the book ended.

[NaDell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series of books!
They are great to escape for a little bit and enjoy the writing and characters.
There is a group of girls who camped together as teens each summer who made a pact to marry billionaires and if they don't, they have to get up at their wedding and sing an embarrassing camp song.
They became lifelong friends and come together for each new wedding and are there for each other through all of it.
This book was full of escape and tension and high emotions while she is in the care of the FBI and then is in hiding from the FBI after discovering some more information. She hides out at her friend's ranch where she feels safe.

[Charity Bradford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here's another clean romance from Cami. She's back to what I think she does best. Suspense! I loved how MacKenzie is skittish throughout the book. There's none of this everything is okay feeling going on--she has anxiety throughout even though she has moments of feeling safe with Isaac. Even Isaac gives her moments of fear. Especially when he's giving Brad exactly what he needs!

Brad is a character we first met in THE INDEPENDENT ONE, another of the billionaire bride pacts. He is a real piece of work and I'm glad he finally gets some of what he deserves by the end. I highly suggest you read that book to appreciate all the Brad scenes in this one.

Back to Mac and Isaac...

Isaac is dreamy in that, cowboy artist, will always watch out for you, kind of way. The fact he's insecure about his abilities. He knows Mac is keeping something secret, but he also knows he needs to slowly gain her trust.

There is great romantic tension and the suspense is just as great. The writing is clean and the fear Mac feels is realistic. I loved the story and read it in one sitting.

The Protective One gets a 4.5!

1-5 scale and what it means:
1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad
2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing
3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive
3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love
4: Solid mind candy / worth reading
4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read
5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

[Alisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one! Mackenzie accidentally witnessed a crime lord and his brother torturing a man and called 911. Because of her "interference" the police killed the brother, but the crime lord escaped and now he's after Mackenzie. While in protective custody she was compromised by one of the agents and was barely able to escape. So she's had to completely disappear so she ends up in Crested Butte, Colorado. Her friend Haley takes her in and lets her work at her store, but that puts her in close proximity to Haley's brother, Isaac. Isaac is getting too close to her so she keeps trying to push him back, but his protective nature keeps him coming closer. While she likes Isaac a lot, she is the only person who knows that a truly evil man with extensive resources is hunting her down and so she can't risk anyone else's lives.

Brad, the "father" of Haley's child Taz, makes another appearance in this book. He proves himself to be even scummier than we thought. I love how tough Mackenzie is and how protective and loyal Isaac is.

I love how these are not cookie cutter books, but each heroine has her own story and her own journey.

Content: Clean with some mild violence (not too many details)
Source: Kindle Unlimited

[Rebekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some edit errors

There were some edit errors in this book and then some parts of the story that just didn't make sense. One example, she drove a beater car to her friend's house several hundred miles but told her friend she lost her luggage at the airport? Also she's willing to give the guy who raped her good friend a chance?? Those were just a couple of examples that bugged me. This was a cute story with some potential but some of the story holes just bothered me.
I loved that this was so clean with chemistry, and I liked the idea here. The execution wasn't 5 stars for me.

[Donna Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun action packed story. As usual Cami Checketts has written another fun, clean romance that keeps the reader intrigued. With great characters and and a fast paced storyline the reader is hooked from the beginning. Also note that the main character Mackenzie has awesome taste in authors!

[Lonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story had more elements of suspense, than other books in this series, but it wasn't my favorite. I didn't care for MacKenzie to be honest, I thought she was foolish. But, I did like Isaac.

[Coral Mitchell · Rating 1 out of 5]

MacKenzie is warned Brad is a terrible person, assaulted her friend, and has not changed. She ignores all this and pushes Isaac away. Did not finish.

[Tina "IRead2Escape" · Rating 3 out of 5]

MacKenzie witnessed a man being tortured and then killed while hiding behind a dumpster. She did what anyone would do in this situation she called 911. Unfortunately, this put MacKenzie in the cross hairs of a notorious crime boss. After failed protection by the FBI MacKenzie went to hide at her friend's place in Colorado. In doing so MacKenzie not only put Haley and her family in danger but she found that the feelings she had for Haley's brother way back when were still as strong as ever if only he wasn't such a jerk all of the time.

Isaac had the hots for MacKenzie big time when they were younger. But, he was always saying the wrong thing around her. She made him so nervous and it just came out. Now that she's back in town Isaac could see that something was going on with MacKenzie but before he could figure that out he had to find a way to convince Haley that he isn't the jerk he always comes across as.

I like Isaac and Haley together, but they are by no means my favorite of this series. I feel like a lot of the miscommunication could have been cleared up simply by Isaac explaining that Haley brought the stupid out in him because he was so taken with her. He had no problems being honest with her and flirting with her the rest of the time so why not just open up. The ending seemed to wrap up really quick, but not so much so that the story wasn't enjoyable.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mackenzie and Isaac

Mackenzie has witnessed a gruesome murder and is now in protective custody with the FBI. Only one of them has sold her out and Solomon Squire, the gang lord has found her. Agent Klein is great and tells her what to do to stay safe. What neither of them expected was for Agent Tureen to come to the barn they are hiding in and shoots Klein! Mackenzie does what Klein told her to do, run! She buys an old clunker for $500 and asks her best friend Haley if she can come to Crested Butte, Colorado. Haley agrees but there's a catch, she and her son Taz are on their way to her fiancee Cal's private island and she needs her to man her store. Which she agrees to, the only problem is staying away from Haley's brother Isaac. Oh Isaac, her first kiss when she visited when she was 16! She has to remember to be careful as Squire and his men are still looking for her to kill her and anyone else who gets in their way! What happens when Brad Hill decides to take an interest in her? Will Haley and Isaacs warnings about him be enough to warn her? What happens when she finally has to tell Isaac and his deputy friend Josh her past? Will she ever see her parents again? Will she ever be safe? Only one way to find out, read this great story by Cami Checketts, Jeanette Lewis and Lucy McConnell.

[Rosareading · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has nothing to do a with a billionaire bride pact, I’d skimmed past this suggestion so many times because that title put me off. There are no billionaires and one bride but she’s a side character.

What this is actually about is a woman who’s in big trouble & the sweetest man who wants to help her. Adorable book. It’s an intense one for threat but also lots of cozy moments.

This comes up as clean, and while it isn’t detailed it felt like half the book was physical longing. Somehow it came across steamy even though nothing ever passed kisses, and the two characters are respectful of each other and nothing goes further.

[Richard Goodrum · Rating 5 out of 5]

MacKenzie Gunthrie fled an assassination attempt after a turncoat FBI agent shot a trustworthy one. She previously had seen a crime boss torturing a man. Isaac Turnbow, her secret crush, barely acknowledges her. Yet, he's as infatuated as she is.

This merging of Christian Mystery & Suspense Romance, Inspirational Religious Fiction, and Billionaires & Millionaires Romance genres is sensational. Her jumpiness is sincere, the terror apparent. His willingness to guard and protect her is marvelous. The conclusion is delightful.

Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Happily Ever After. Romantic. Scary. Tragic. Unpredictable. Whimsical. Wonderful characters.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was excited to read this one because we got a peek of Issac at the end of Haley's story. Issac and MacKenzie are fun to watch. There are always sparks flying between them, for good or bad. Both have dynamic personalities and keep the pace moving swiftly along. I am trying to figure out if there is another book in this series that will give me a peek into Issac and MacKenzie's lives after this story ends. I just want to see a bit further into their future. I guess that is the sign of a good book when I don't want the story to end. I look forward to more from Cami Checketts!

[Jessica Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the suspense, the drama, and the romance of the story. I liked the fact that she actually had a reason to be so fearful. It some of the other books, it seems like the main character is overreacting. In this book, it seems as though the characters responded a little more appropriately to their circumstances.

I also love how the writer intertwines characters from the previous books into each book in the series.

My only complaint is that I'd love for the writer to include more characters of other nationalities in her books.. other than that, I have no complaints.

[Jessica Liza]

This book was fluffy fun. Fit the bill for when I needed it. I liked her back story. And I liked that she didn’t marry a billionaire. A fun twist. Some tiny things drive me crazy like the fact he’ll fly to Chicago but then leave when he sees her kissing someone. Wouldn’t you at least try to say “hey”?! But I realize those plot lines are necessary for the story.

[Norma Gorrill · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Protected One

This is another great story in the billionaire’s bride pact made by a group of young girls at camp. This one is about Mackenzie who fell in love with Haley’s brother and then he had to get her hidden from the man who she witnessed murdering another man. This is my review and mine alone. Norma Gorrill

[Anne Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read

I loved this story. Warm & wonderful characters, awesome settings and excellent writing made this enjoyable book hard to put down. I'm sure it could be read as a stand alone, but I think it's much better to read in series order. This is a sweet, clean romance with a bit of suspense that keeps the pages turning quickly.

[Megan M · Rating 3 out of 5]

FMC on the run from a killer, escapes protective custody because the FBI had been infiltrated.
Returns to small town where her BFF lives. Catches up with her BFF brother who she had a crush on when she was younger.
Bro becomes her protector when the monster finds her.
Some miscommunication between the MMC & FMC but they come together in the end.

[Bernie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Protective One review

The Protective One is the seventh book in the Billionaire Bride Pact Romance series written by author Cami Checketts. MacKenzie and Isaac are a cute couple. This story is more romantic suspense.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very entertaining. I liked the characters but feel like I needed to read others in the Billionaire Bride Pact series before this one to get the back story. I will look for the rest of the series.

[Sandra Hartzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a free copy of this book, but this is my honest opinion. Cami has another good book in the Billionaire Brides series. I enjoyed reading this one a much as the others in the series. The characters are interesting and fun and the plots are all great.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Will Definitely Try Again.

All the potential in the world, the developing storyline was interesting and had the makes of a wonderful novel; however, I never could become engaged with my attention fully invested. I will definitely have to give this story another try later on.