Betrayed

by Jade Webb

She has a secret that could bring down an empire - and risk her life and her heart in the balance.

SOPHIA

I’ve lived my life in the shadows as the secret daughter of the king of the West Asian monarchy of Trivia. 

So when I have the chance to attend graduate school in the United States, I jump at the opportunity to become the woman I was never allowed to back in Trivia. 

Except there’s one tiny hitch. Due to political tension back in Trivia, my father, the king insists I have a bodyguard on me 24/7.

But the brooding babysitter I’m stuck with is making blending in a difficult task and as angry as I am with him, I am also beginning to find myself dreaming of the sexy bodyguard. 

But can I let myself fall for the man who continues to push me away? His heart has already been broken once, but will he be wiling to take another chance on me? 

ALEC

After discovering my fiancée has been heating on me, I took the first assignment from my job at Hazak Private Security that got me out of California. 

I needed a fresh start and the easy gig babysitting some rich chick across the country was exactly what would help me move on. 

But Sophia is nothing like what I had imagined. She’s beautiful, kind and awakens within me a renewed desire for life- and for her.

But when the threats that Sophia escaped from follow her to the States, will I be able to protect the woman who now has my heart? Or will the secret she’s been hiding doom us before we even have a chance?

Betrayed is Book 4 in the Hazak Private Security series and can be read as a standalone, though will be best enjoyed after reading books 1-3. 

Unknown Binding

Published July 16, 2021

About the author

I have loved romance novels since I was a teen, sneaking them into my Bible studies at my all-girls Catholic school. I love strong heroines who know that the men that may come into their lives are always the icing, and never the cake.

Thanks to my own marriage, I have learned that the challenges of life can only help to make love stronger and I am grateful to my husband for embodying all the magic that love can offer.

When I am not writing or dreaming up new love stories, I am working as a social worker in a retirement community outside of Boston that provides me with enough writing material for ten lifetimes.

Reviews

[Hana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are you craving a cinnamon roll? If so, have I got the treat for you!! Meet Alec, our sexy, heart broken bodyguard. Well... I'm not entirely sure how heartbroken he really is - he caught his fiancee cheating on him but really it feels like he dodged a bullet, honestly. Relief is a real thing. Nonetheless, his trust and feelings were certainly betrayed. He escapes the aftermath of his ruined wedding to his next assignment, not realizing his next assignment would be life changing.

Enter Sophia. A secret princess of the small nation of Trivia. Her father, the king, loves her but she is kept a secret, her true relationship hidden from the world as she was born out of wedlock. Despite this, their relationship is still heartfelt. The distance and relationship with other members of the royal family not so much. Due to fighting factions in this small nation, the royal family is under attack and the king believes it would be safer for Sophia to return to the states, the daughter of a rich businessman, with a bodyguard until the plots against the king and his family are uncovered/deterred.

The relationship that develops between Alex and Sophia due to their forced proximity is at first tentative but then becomes steamy and emotional. I love how he tries to overcome the hurt from his fiancee and friend and give Sophia what she needs and asks for without compromising her safety. She is trying to protect her heart, her insecurities coming through and he tries to keep in mind that she is an assignment. But the slow burn does indeed burn and the inevitable will persist.

As the plot thickens and things become scary in Trivia, Sophia must return when her identity is uncovered. Alec returns with her and the ultimate betrayal is uncovered in this island kingdom. The suspense of the book is done well (even if I did see it coming!).

This is the fourth book in this series but my first by Jade Webb. I did love this couple and enjoyed the story and would like to read more about the other bodyguards in Hazak Private Security!

[Jennie Fortna · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC for honest review with no compensation

Betrayed is book 4 in the Hazak Private Security series by Jade Webb and it just gets better and better!

Alec’s first assignment for Hazak Private Security is a fresh start after having finding out his fiancée was cheating on him right before their wedding and an easy job … babysitting a rich princess dignitary from across the ocean except he doesn’t expect to feel an attraction for her.

Sophie is the secret daughter of the King of Trivia and when things become tense in her country she is sent to the US out of harms way…or is she?

Suspense, twists, turns, emotional, keeping her safe, insecurities, steamy romance and so much more…

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book four in The Hazak Private Security Series and it is Sophia and Alec's story. Alex works for the Hazak Private Security so when Alex finds out an hour before he is due to get married that his fiance has been having an affair with his best friend for a long time Alex is furious with himself that he hadn't seen the signs or realised what was going on so when he was offered a bodyguard job far away from his home he knows that he needs to get away and regroup. Sophia is the daughter of the king of Trivia but she has always had to keep this a secret and she is not recognised as part of the royal family as her mother spent time with the king after his wife died and Sophia is the results of that time so everything has to be kept out of the media or it could ruin the country and her father's position. When there are threats on not only the kings life he decides that it is a good time for Sophia to go back to university as she will be safe there especially as she has survived a bomb blast when she was with her brother and she still suffers from nightmares, panic attacks and she has scars but being away from Trivia will hopefully give her a bit of freedom. When Alex and Sophie meet things don't go according to plan and when an attempt on Sophia's life happens things get even more complicated. There are twists and turns along the way and that is what makes this book a real page turner that I couldn't put down because I wanted to see what the outcome of the story would be. I definitely recommend you read this book and you will definitely not be disappointed as it is so well written and addictive.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kelchickbooklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can you get over the betrayal by the ones you love? Jade writes a slow burn romance that has heartbreak, betrayal, secrets and love.

Alec us a sexy, heartbroken bodyguard that has just had his life shattered. Walking in on his fiance and best friend in a comprising position an hour before his wedding. He decides he needs to get far away and by coincidence he has been given a job of being a bodyguard to a young rich kid across the country. Little does Alec know that this kid isn't a kid but a beautiful feisty woman that has Alec's mind going in circles. Can he get over his heartbreak? Will this woman get him to open his heart again?

Sophia is the illegitimate daughter of a king of a small country. Her father has agreed that maybe it would be safer for her to leave their home country and go to school in the states. The only thing is he has assigned a bodyguard to her. Is she happy about this? No because she cannot be herself and blend in. Does she change her mind when she meets the handsome and sexy bodyguard? Can she get him to change his grumpy, negative attitude?

What happens when they get close to each other? When a guy from school make a play for Sophia, what happens? Is Sophia safe?

Jade does a terrific job of building the tension between Alec and Sophia. The love/hate relationship is interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

[reader_dreamer_4life · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book four in The Hazak Private Security Series is Sophia and Alec's story and I absolutely devoured it.

Alec works for the Hazak Private Security. And when his personal life is thrown into turmoil he jumps at the chance to take on a security job that places him far away from home.
This job brings him to the gorgeous Sophia.
These two share an instantaneous chemistry which turns into a slow burn.
Sophia's insecurities hold her back from making her feelings known, and Alec is not only trying to protect his heart but he also trying to remember she is a client.

The HEA journey for these two is bumpy. It's riddled with heartbreak, angst, secrets, suspense, twists and turns, a pinch of steam, and a dash of action.
It is a real page turner that will have you devouring every word desperately wanting to see where the story would go. And where it ended???? was the perfect heartwarming HEA.

A Highly Recommended Read!!

[Tesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sophia is a Trivian princess who is in the US studying and under protection from Alec from Hazak Security.
This book surprised me as it was more about the relationship than the action surrounding them. Sure there was action though, definitely was, just took a back seat to the relationship.
I really liked the relationship, where Alec had come from, his initial treatment of Sophia and their warming up. I also liked the family link and how it changed towards the end of the book.
Very well written and easy to read, the characters seemed genuine and the situations certainly different.
Certainly a great story!!!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debbie Caswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in this series I have loved them all but this one is a little different there seems to be a little less action or more time spent on the evolving relationship

Alec is about to get married when he discovers that his fiancée has been having an affair with his best friend Luckily working for Hazak Private Security he can get a mission that takes him away so that he can lick his wounds He is sent to be the bodyguard for Sophia the secret daughter of the king of Trivia. There is an attraction between them but Alec doesn't trust women any longer and continually pulls away Can they have a future You will have to read to see

[Sharing My Book Boyfriends · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely enjoyed reading Sophia and Alec's story. I loved how strong and confident Sophia was, and how protective Alec was. At first, Sophia was just a job Alec accepted to get away from his cheating fiance. He assumed Sophia was a spoiled rich princess. He was surprised and glad to be wrong. When secrets start coming out that involve Sophia, Alec is determined to protect her from anyone that may want to hurt her, physically or emotionally. Even though he was hired to protect her, he wanted to be by her side. Being around her 24/7, the chemistry they shared is hard to resist as well.
This is the first book I have read by Jade Webb, and I definitely plan to read more in the future.

[Vivian Chrisman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was granted a copy of this book via Bookfunnel and I am voluntarily reviewing it. This is a new author for me but the blurb caught my attention. I decided to give it a try....glad I did. After reading the first chapter and being introduced to Alec, I thought "okay, I see what the title is about". Well that's only part of the reason. The other will leave you stunned. As for the relationship between Alec and Sophia, these two proved to be a great match. They were able to help the other heal and move forward. Would I recommend this story to friends? Yes! Will I be going back and reading the rest of this series? Heck Yeah!!!

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun, cute read! It was so easy to fall into this world and adore these characters. Alex is such a cinnamon roll hero, tough on the outside and sweet on the in. And Sophia is such a strong, lovely character! I loved watching the two of them long for each other and fall in love so slowly and beautifully. I was hooked to the pages, so excited to find out what was happening in their world with plenty of twists and turns. If you're looking for a quick read with forbidden romance and royalty, this is definitely for you.

[Rhonda Howell · Rating 4 out of 5]

After Alec is cheated on he has to leave the stated to get his head on straight. He takes a security assignment guarding a rich dignitary. What happens when he starts to develop feelings for her. Will he be able to keep her safe from the outside threats to her life or willl his feelings get in the way? The storyline flows effortlessly with characters who fit well together.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful story with Alec, a bodyguard, and Sophia, a woman from a foreign country.
I loved reading about Alec and his past and Sophia and her country.
A great addition to the Hazac series!
Standalone book. HEA. No cliffhanger.

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Alec & Sophia's book. It was an entertaining read. I got a copy of the book. And am voluntarily leaving my review.