Grumpy Bodyguard

by Cassandra Russell

Someone tried to kill me. Like, actually freakin murder me! I need protection, and fast.

Enter Callum Derston: My brother’s best friend. Ex Navy SEAL. Hometown hero.

The love of my life who doesn’t notice me until he’s paid to.

I never wanted to go back home. Now I have no choice even though everyone there wants my head on spike. To make matters worse, I have an actual stalker!

I need a bodyguard but don't expect the sizzling Callum Derston to be my only option.

He's tall, dark, and gorgeous. Oh, did I mention I was in love with him when I was a teen? Too bad he didn't know I existed.

When he picks me up he doesn't even recognize me, the arrogant jerk. To be fair, I'm not the ugly duckling he knew in high school. But he's gotten somehow hotter and starts hitting on me!

Until he finds out I'm his best friend's dorky sister and I'm off limits.

But then why is he so possessive? And why does he keep looking at me like that?

Things are about to get very messy…

Genres: Military Fiction, Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Second Chance

237 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 4, 2023

Reviews

[Magali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent characters and very good romance
I loved Minerva who is very bitter, but this bitterness is extremely well described, moving and understandable compared to her past when she has to return to her hometown for a few days, to face her demons, all after being threatened. She has become strong, even if she retains weaknesses.
I also really liked Cal because under his ex-military physique, he has traumas that affect him as he tries to hide them.
Their story, their grievances are very moving, but also fascinating. I loved their story a bit heartbreaking, but impossible to put down before having finished the story.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book

[Sadie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Buckle in because this book is full of disappointment. To start off I was so excited about the premise of this book, but this book is absolutely NOT a bodyguard book. This is just some guy that was in the army who does absolutely no guarding. I do not like Cal. As far as male love interests go, Cal was on my nerves for the entirety of this book. He was a complete *ss for almost all of this book, throwing his weight around, being hot and cold with the main girl, going back on his word, and being completely lackluster.

Minerva is a woman who was wronged by her hometown but surprise she wasn't, but was? I really wish the author would have stuck with the town being a horrible place and Minerva brining it to light to other characters in the town who don't know better. Instead the town barely is shown as treating anyone poorly. It was totally unrealistic for Minerva to be having these major conflicts with her family then almost immediately solving them with no real effort or even showing us what happened to make amends.

Cal was totally wrong in a lot of his perceptions and I could not stand the way his character did a 180 from the first few chapters of his introduction. He is written as viewing women only for sex, claiming Minnie to be a challenge he wants to take on. he also writes that he doesn't 'remember' his best friends younger sister which is Minnie. Then when he and Minnie are starting their romantic relationship, he SUDDENLY remembers her and all these small moments. The author seemed to take back different parts of his character later in the story. Also his womanizing ways didn't change because we kept seeing him view our female MC as just a hot chick.

I felt like there was no emotional connection between literally any of the characters. They seemingly have conflicts for no reason just to have them resolved or gloss over them completely.

Not to mention our 'big bad' in this book was so predictable and we weren't even given other suspicious characters to consider. It was just one sus dude and one note. What did this girl even need protection from if the knife welder and the 'big bad' weren't connected at all? Minerva's life wasn't in danger at all until the last ten pages. There was no sense of foreboding or worry over her.

I was hoping that the whole town would be more devious and that would explain why Minerva hates the town and why they hate her for like 'revealing' their secrets or something.

There was just so much missed opportunity in a really interest concept.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

mmc constantly tells fmc that her trauma is unjustified and she should make amends with people who bullied her and made her feel isolated

[Penny Benjamin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I DNFed the book but I thought 3 stars would be fair. The author has a good writing style but I just could not get behind the storyline itself and the character. I feel like I should at least like the main character but she just came off snobby and mean. The people in her hometown didn't seem as bad and she was so hateful towards everything and everyone over a few high school bullies. Plus based on her description of their old home and everything there, maybe her family just could not afford to transfer her out of the school and of course that doesn't excuse the bullying she endured but it would have been nice if she had only focused that contempt towards the people that deserved it instead of everyone else too. And if you're an introverted person when you were younger why are you mad that people didn't notice you when you were trying not to be noticed? It's also not Cal's fault he didn't notice you when he's possibly 5 years older than you. It would actually be gross if he had been looking at you that way when you were underage. And getting mad at someone for not recognizing you when you changed your name, haven't been around for years and looked differently now is pretty ridiculous. How self-important do you have to be that you can't realize that other people have their own lives and interests and maybe you just didn't register high in his teenage memories. And when she was justifying why she didn't come see her father before he passed, it just made me upset because what do you mean it's not your fault because it was unexpected and you didn't have the chance to be there?? That was not the point!! The point is if you spend time with the people you supposedly care about and love than if something unexpected happened than at least you saw them and showed them you cared about them while they were alive. What's he going to care now that he's gone that you came for him now?? Come for him or others when they're alive. Your brother is good to you. Are you going to abandon him too and just show up for the funeral without even some tears or showing any real sadness. In all honesty, it's looking more like she's the problem than anyone else when I'm sure everyone had a bit of flaws too. She also didn't really seem like she was in real danger other than her nasty attitude and word towards her hometown obviously leaving the people with hatred towards her.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Minera "Minnie" Pugh had a hard time fitting in when she was in school. Her brother, his friend Cal and her friend Fallon were basically all she had in the world. She used to go to the library and hide in the back to keep away from the kids who would torment her. She is returning to town for her father's funeral and everyone in town seems to be mad at her. She also has a stalker so she has hired a bodyguard to protect her while in town. When Minnie gets to the airport, she finds Cal is the bodyguard that was hired to protect her. She's really frustrated with him because she's had a crush on him since she was little and it takes a while for him to get that admission out of her. They connect, but there are many other issues for them to get to forever.

This is a great story about how sometimes we let our emotions and perceptions color how we view an entire situation, even though there are probably more layers that we can't even see. Minnie only saw how the town and its people treated her, but she didn't think about how her mom and dad saw her leaving town and staying away.

[Tahnia Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

From a tiny little town in Kentucky, Minerva now lives in New York City and is a very successful author of small-town stories that reflect how she grew up. When her father dies suddenly, Minerva flies home for the funeral, only planning on staying a week in her hometown. But her brother's best friend, Cal, has other plans when he goes from being just her bodyguard to realizing he loves Minerva. This story has a stalking storyline, and includes action and romance, ending in a HEA. Very highly recommended.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Minerva moved out of her small town as soon as she turned 18. After years of being bullied and put down, she turned all that anger into writing about small town life. She became a best selling author. Returning for her father’s funeral, Minnie has a stalker and Cal was hired to be her bodyguard. Cal, her brother’s best friend and her teenage crush. Things are about to get very interesting. Loved it.

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

[Danee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story where you can't turn the page fast enough. You are hooked into the story from start to finish. The attraction and chemistry between the characters is great and they fit well together too.

I received an Advance Reader copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good romantic suspense storyline with defined MCs, past issues, a stalker, feelings revealed, and a possible HEA. I liked this entertaining and engaging read.

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

[Shirlgig · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought Minerva was over the top with bitterness about the past; putting it into a journal for private use is one thing, but publishing it was insane.
I enjoyed the book, but Fallon - not so much.

[Marti · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

This book was different than what I originally thought it’d be. I sorta felt like Minerva was childish, it was clear she had baggage that she was definitely not over. Although this book wasn’t what I expect it was still a decent read.

[anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

love this book! cute read!

I love how there’s like action and romance in a book. I can definitely relate to the main character as well so it was even better!

[VoraciousReader · Rating 2 out of 5]

38% and absolutely nothing has happened. I have better things to do than read this book.

[Jennifer Engle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice cover

But the copy wasn't so great. It was hard to believe and most of the action seemed forced. Likewise, the ending was very rushed.

[Kenzie Griffin · Rating 2 out of 5]

dnf, all the characters were incredibly annoying. cringey, cliche, and too many plot holes.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Predictable. Boring. The main character was annoying and the character development was lackluster.

[Crystal Dillhunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

If you like best friend little sisters romances this is the book for you.not the only trop in the book. Happy reading

[Michelle Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book a definite page turner. Coming from a small town is as you can read either a good thing or bad.

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