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Cain and Abel #3
Educating the Professor
Cara needs one night where she doesn't have to worry about anything but having a good time. She's determined to make tonight that night, but her plan goes awry in the most humiliating fashion.Before the night is over, she proves she's a klutz and the target of a nefarious stranger. First, she spills beer on the sexiest man she's ever seen in her life. Next, she gets shot at, all while ruining her favorite pantyhose. If not for her mishap with the handsome man, she might not live to see another day.Jonny needs a night off. After two-hundred years of nonstop work as a Fallen Member, he looks forward to a cold beer and a little fun. What he doesn't expect is that he'll end up wearing the beer and protecting the feisty professor he hasn't stopped dreaming about since the first time he laid eyes on her.When Cara’s life is threatened, Jonny abandons everything to protect her, but she's no ordinary damsel-in-distress. She's fiercely independent and not at all prepared for how quickly her world is about to change with him in it, and that scares her.Cara is now getting her own education in protection, as she tries to manage her career and fight the attraction between her and Jonny. One that is not only unprofessional, but also borders on illegal in his world.As days turn to weeks, they can't deny that their feelings are growing, like the body count that seems to be connected to one of the two people Jonny is guarding. Will their forced close proximity keep her safe from harm or will it lead them down a dangerous path?
451 pages, Paperback
Published August 25, 2020
About the author
S.J. Rowe
13 books89 followersAfter traveling all over the world as a child, S.J. Rowe has found a home in the southwest with her husband. She continues to visit exotic destinations around the world with her best friends, and when she is home, she splits her time between watching baseball and singing in the car. To unwind, she finds herself enjoying a good cup of coffee while curled up watching Star Wars.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 6, 2022
*3.5 Stars.
I will start by saying that this is the first book I have read by Rowe and have not read the previous books in the series, which may be why I struggled a bit with parts of it.
The first part of the book moved a bit slow for me and had almost too much description at times. There was also a lot to keep track of as the book went on, as Rowe tried to explain the world she created. That being said I never completely lost interest despite not being able to get through it too quickly and overall enjoyed the story, especially when the plot started to really pick up (about 2/3rds in). I especially liked Rowe's explanation of how her world related to vampire lore, which I thought was a fun take.
I also really liked Cara's character. She was competent because of everything she learned from her family, but at the same time her capabilities did not go beyond her experiences. By that I mean that while she knew how to shoot a gun, the fact that she had never seen a death or been attacked before still had an impact on her, while not going so far as to throw her into a "damsel in distress" role and wasn't crushed by the level of protectiveness exhibited by Jonny and her family.
The part that I struggled the most with was Cara and Jonny's relationship, which felt like it turned from almost no interaction excepted heated glances to an insta-love situation. I honestly really dislike the insta-love that accompanies so many romances, and I know that it almost needs to be that way for some of the shorter romances, but this book had the appropriate page length that insta-love was not necessary. There was just something so unbelievable about it...I mean I get a certain level of attraction, lust, protectiveness, etc., but love in that amount of time and level of interaction, no.
The author did mention that they were "soul mates" so it is possible the author was saying there was a supernatural/fated aspect to their relationship but that was never discussed or explored in the context of their world and what that meant to them. Also even in a lot of "mate" books, like shifter romances, while there is attraction and compatibility between the couple, the authors that did the trope properly i.m.o. acknowledge that love has to build and grow and is not just there because they are fated to be together, and that did not really happen here.
All that being said, I enjoyed the book and would consider trying some of Rowe's other work!
A big thank you to BookSirens and S.J. Rowe for the ARC I received and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
I will start by saying that this is the first book I have read by Rowe and have not read the previous books in the series, which may be why I struggled a bit with parts of it.
The first part of the book moved a bit slow for me and had almost too much description at times. There was also a lot to keep track of as the book went on, as Rowe tried to explain the world she created. That being said I never completely lost interest despite not being able to get through it too quickly and overall enjoyed the story, especially when the plot started to really pick up (about 2/3rds in). I especially liked Rowe's explanation of how her world related to vampire lore, which I thought was a fun take.
I also really liked Cara's character. She was competent because of everything she learned from her family, but at the same time her capabilities did not go beyond her experiences. By that I mean that while she knew how to shoot a gun, the fact that she had never seen a death or been attacked before still had an impact on her, while not going so far as to throw her into a "damsel in distress" role and wasn't crushed by the level of protectiveness exhibited by Jonny and her family.
The part that I struggled the most with was Cara and Jonny's relationship, which felt like it turned from almost no interaction excepted heated glances to an insta-love situation. I honestly really dislike the insta-love that accompanies so many romances, and I know that it almost needs to be that way for some of the shorter romances, but this book had the appropriate page length that insta-love was not necessary. There was just something so unbelievable about it...I mean I get a certain level of attraction, lust, protectiveness, etc., but love in that amount of time and level of interaction, no.
The author did mention that they were "soul mates" so it is possible the author was saying there was a supernatural/fated aspect to their relationship but that was never discussed or explored in the context of their world and what that meant to them. Also even in a lot of "mate" books, like shifter romances, while there is attraction and compatibility between the couple, the authors that did the trope properly i.m.o. acknowledge that love has to build and grow and is not just there because they are fated to be together, and that did not really happen here.
All that being said, I enjoyed the book and would consider trying some of Rowe's other work!
A big thank you to BookSirens and S.J. Rowe for the ARC I received and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
September 28, 2020
Found this a hard read as I have not read either of the previous books in the series. Thought the world building was great, but found I was flipping to the front glossary a lot to keep up with who was what, if I had read the previous books this would have been easier. The emotions, tension between characters was so well written that I experienced them myself. Found the book dragged a bit in the first half but then it took off. Loved the ending, will now have to go back and read the other books. Look forward to the next one being released to see what happens to Zach, Jonny & Cara.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 29, 2020
Absolutely my favorite in this series! Great twists and action!
January 5, 2021
4.5 stars
April 13, 2022
I have loved all 3 books in this series. I was pulled in from the beginning. There is so much more going on than initially thought. The plot seems so straightforward until things start to unravel.
Johnny and Cara are amazing together. She gets through his armor. He needs to see her safe. The supporting characters, a mix of Fallen and Prime, show how tenuous the peace the treaty created really is.
I enjoyed the world this and the other stories live in. I cannot wait to go back.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Johnny and Cara are amazing together. She gets through his armor. He needs to see her safe. The supporting characters, a mix of Fallen and Prime, show how tenuous the peace the treaty created really is.
I enjoyed the world this and the other stories live in. I cannot wait to go back.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 26, 2022
This is a nice addition to the series. I like how this story sheds light on the Fallen in relation to the Primes. I also like the introduction of the Forsaken Son and the Half Blood. However, I believe that the story is too wordy, that there are too many inner monologues and that there is a lot of repetition. I still think the premise is very promising. I think this is a case where this is a good series, just not the right fit for me. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 29, 2022
Wow, this book is everything I expected it to be since I read previos two I did have high expectations but I was not disappointed. The characters are really engaging with lot of steam and action. Great!!
March 17, 2022
This is book 3 in Rowe's Cain and Abel series. While this is a part of a series, it can be read as a stand alone. Rowe's paranormal world and the people in it as so unique which makes this series stand out. There are great characters and a good storyline. Main characters in this read are Cara and Jonny. While I've read the first two books in this series, I think that each book gets better and better! Amazing characters and chemistry and a world that will captivate in it's uniqueness.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 27, 2022
Most romantic and beautiful love story
This is a wonderful read. Since the first chapter it captures you and pulls you in and you can't put it down . Loved the plot the whole thing, it has all the ingredients to make a successful story. I am glad I read the first book of this writer. VERY WELL DONE.
This is a wonderful read. Since the first chapter it captures you and pulls you in and you can't put it down . Loved the plot the whole thing, it has all the ingredients to make a successful story. I am glad I read the first book of this writer. VERY WELL DONE.
January 20, 2022
Always enjoy her twists!
A great addition to the series....more enticing characters you can't help but love or want to make love to. Beautiful, sexy and so imaginative.
A great addition to the series....more enticing characters you can't help but love or want to make love to. Beautiful, sexy and so imaginative.
February 1, 2022
Marked For Protection by S.J. Rowe is book 3 of the Cain and Abel series. Hmmm… how to start this? Well, let’s start with the basics, while this is book 3 in a series it can be read as a standalone, that’s what I did. I have not read books 1 and 2, I did not feel like this effected my enjoyment and understanding of the book. Second, this book, sweet mercy. I usually don’t really take notes while I’m reading a book. It takes away from the reading, in my personal experience. However, I did take a few notes with this book. Shall we read some of them? “This book, this freaking book.” “It made me so furious I had to throw my phone and walk away.” “Pure and utter torture” “I can’t stand it but I can’t put it down!” I mean, what more do you need to know. Ok, well I should probably tell you that I actually enjoyed the book. I know it sounds like I didn’t, but I really did. It just gave me all the freaking feels and I was having a difficult time processing them. My one true complaint is that near the end the bada$$ heroine kind of forgets she’s a bada$$ and kind of wimps out. I would have liked to see her be a little more intentional in that scene, but I think she kind of redeems herself and overall, the book was fantastic. I really enjoyed reading it.
In this book we are introduced to Cara. She is the youngest with 4 overbearing, overprotective brothers and one overbearing and overprotective father. She is trying to find herself in a world where she often feels like she doesn’t have control. After a particularly trying few weeks, she decides to go out to try to relax. This is where she meets Jonny. Unfortunately, their interaction doesn’t go the best. First, she calls him gay and then she gets separated from him during a gunfight. This also happens to be her introduction to a world she didn’t know existed. When a death threat is made on her life, several others end up murdered and not understanding the connection. She and Jonny must work together to understand what is going on and try to prevent more murders. Can they figure out a way to make their budding feelings work through all of the chaos, or will their separate worlds be too much to overcome?
** I received this book as an ARC from the author. This is an honest review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own. **
In this book we are introduced to Cara. She is the youngest with 4 overbearing, overprotective brothers and one overbearing and overprotective father. She is trying to find herself in a world where she often feels like she doesn’t have control. After a particularly trying few weeks, she decides to go out to try to relax. This is where she meets Jonny. Unfortunately, their interaction doesn’t go the best. First, she calls him gay and then she gets separated from him during a gunfight. This also happens to be her introduction to a world she didn’t know existed. When a death threat is made on her life, several others end up murdered and not understanding the connection. She and Jonny must work together to understand what is going on and try to prevent more murders. Can they figure out a way to make their budding feelings work through all of the chaos, or will their separate worlds be too much to overcome?
** I received this book as an ARC from the author. This is an honest review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own. **
September 22, 2020
Ok this book really surprised me. I didn´t realize when I asked for it, that it was paranormal romance, what I normally don´t read.
But lucky me, it was a great surprise. Just a bit slow for me at the beginning, but after a few chapters, it starts to get more and more page turner.
Cara is a professor at college. She decided to take a night out where she doesn't have to worry about anything but having a good time. But her plan goes awry in the most humiliating fashion when she becomes the target of a nefarious stranger.
Jonny works as a Zach´s bodyguard, one of Cara´s students and they meet at a bar, Archives. Jonny needs a night off. After two-hundred years of nonstop work as a Fallen Member, he looks forward to a cold beer and a little fun. What he doesn't expect is that he'll end up protecting the feisty professor he hasn't stopped dreaming about since the first time he laid eyes on her.
When Cara’s life is threatened, Jonny abandons everything to protect her. As days turn to weeks, they can't deny that their feelings are growing, like the killing that seems to be connected to one of the two people Jonny is guarding.
This book is written around Cain and Abel´s story. There’s a lit summary at the beginning explaining all the names that appeared in it, but as the reading goes along is easy for you to follow it without a lot of additional explanation. Jonny is so hot that we kind of envy Cara´s life as his protégé. Or not, but the chemistry between them is of the chart, even though there´s not a lot of sex scenes, the sexual tension is almost real. I like the plot a lot and the main and secondary characters were well written and enjoyable.
This is a standalone love story in a series but can be read in any order. I highly recommend it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
But lucky me, it was a great surprise. Just a bit slow for me at the beginning, but after a few chapters, it starts to get more and more page turner.
Cara is a professor at college. She decided to take a night out where she doesn't have to worry about anything but having a good time. But her plan goes awry in the most humiliating fashion when she becomes the target of a nefarious stranger.
Jonny works as a Zach´s bodyguard, one of Cara´s students and they meet at a bar, Archives. Jonny needs a night off. After two-hundred years of nonstop work as a Fallen Member, he looks forward to a cold beer and a little fun. What he doesn't expect is that he'll end up protecting the feisty professor he hasn't stopped dreaming about since the first time he laid eyes on her.
When Cara’s life is threatened, Jonny abandons everything to protect her. As days turn to weeks, they can't deny that their feelings are growing, like the killing that seems to be connected to one of the two people Jonny is guarding.
This book is written around Cain and Abel´s story. There’s a lit summary at the beginning explaining all the names that appeared in it, but as the reading goes along is easy for you to follow it without a lot of additional explanation. Jonny is so hot that we kind of envy Cara´s life as his protégé. Or not, but the chemistry between them is of the chart, even though there´s not a lot of sex scenes, the sexual tension is almost real. I like the plot a lot and the main and secondary characters were well written and enjoyable.
This is a standalone love story in a series but can be read in any order. I highly recommend it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 16, 2020
There is plenty of action in this book and it is exciting. My only problem is trying to understand all the relationships of what the players are.
As a professor, it is important to make sure all your students are on the same page as yourself. As the professor becomes the student, her very life depends on the knowledge she is about to receive.
It was good to see the two main people did not deny their feelings for each other as is so common these days. There are so many things to like, such as the interaction between the characters and even some of the wit and sarcasm. For those that can keep all the terms straight, this is an excellent choice.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
As a professor, it is important to make sure all your students are on the same page as yourself. As the professor becomes the student, her very life depends on the knowledge she is about to receive.
It was good to see the two main people did not deny their feelings for each other as is so common these days. There are so many things to like, such as the interaction between the characters and even some of the wit and sarcasm. For those that can keep all the terms straight, this is an excellent choice.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 16, 2024
The third instalment of the Cain and Abel series and I continue to be impressed by the characters the author is developing. They are real, with real emotions and real challenges.
The entire world that Rowe has created is rich in detail, however, that may be a hurdle for readers coming in mid-series.
This one was a little slow to get off the ground, the story didn’t disappoint as with the other books in this series.
Thank you for sharing the ARC with me!
The entire world that Rowe has created is rich in detail, however, that may be a hurdle for readers coming in mid-series.
This one was a little slow to get off the ground, the story didn’t disappoint as with the other books in this series.
Thank you for sharing the ARC with me!
November 20, 2021
Absolutely amazing. Loved everything about Cara and Jonny and the world around us. This was so well written and orchestrated. The backstories delivered throughout. Elegantly filling in the gaps of knowledge of the other world through supporting characters that I cannot wait to know more about. Hot hot intimacy. Strong heroine and hero engagement from flawed beings made this amazing. So well done!
December 1, 2021
Marked for protection is the 3rd book in this series and is the best one in my opinion. I enjoyed everything about this book, the characters, the plot and the pace were all perfect. I can't recommend this read enough.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 15, 2022
This is again a fantastic paranormal romance. Absolutely amazing. I really like this series. It's cool and exciting, dangerous and fast-paced. Fascinating characters, plenty of steam and chemistry and more twists and turns then I knew what to do with.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 4, 2020
An enjoyable read but even though it’s a stand alone book, I think you’re better reading the previous books in the series to have a better understanding of all the players. This was my first S.J.Rowe book but won’t be my last.
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October 12, 2021I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
another beautiful read from the author
another beautiful read from the author
October 19, 2021
This one was such a welcomed book, Fascinating characters, plenty of steam and chemistry and more twists and turns then I knew what to do with.
It’s a brilliant book and a brilliant series.
It’s a brilliant book and a brilliant series.
November 25, 2021
This is a fantastic paranormal romance.. I really liked it. It is cool and exciting, dangerous and fast-paced.. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews