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Guarding Gideon

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Will breaking all the rules lead to love or heartbreak?

Being a guardian angel meant everything to Silas. When a mishap with a prior job left his career up in the air, he begged his terrible boss, Demetri, for a second chance to prove his worth. But when he was assigned to Gideon Prestley, he knew he had his work cut out for him.

If Gideon didn’t have a slew of bad luck, he’d have no luck at all. From a terrible childhood to an even worse adulthood, Gideon was on the verge of giving up. That was until a beautiful man with a bright smile walked into his work. From that first meeting, Gideon’s luck started to change and a friendship between the two began to develop.

But what started as friendship began to develop into more, leaving Silas with a very tough decision to make. Did he follow the rules or his heart?

183 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 6, 2023

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Brittany Cournoyer

37 books308 followers

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5 stars
38 (49%)
4 stars
21 (27%)
3 stars
15 (19%)
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1 (1%)
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2 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
Profile Image for Chelle .
481 reviews6 followers
February 4, 2023
This book got me from page one. It was so sweet and the last couple of chapters did make me cry a little. It's a HEA though. I loved reading this book. I am wondering will there be another book in this series because I would like a character to find his HEA.

Thank you to GRR for the ARC of this book.
732 reviews8 followers
February 1, 2023
I won an ARC for this book.

I read it in one setting, work was somehow pushed to second or third place, hell, I needed chocolate to go through some of the chapters.

Silas is on his last chance as a Guardian. His boss is a "going by rules to the extreme" but gives him one assignment to prove himself. I think he chose Gideon to set Silas up for a fall out.

On paper, Gideon has not just bad luch, his whole life is a series of nothing going right. Silas is responsible to put him on the track to a better life and helping him to see hope instead of just resignation.

It is a slow burn but that's a critical part of the book. It's not Silas coming in and setting everything right, it's him giving nudges to help Gideon to see himself in a different light, Silas is the big supporter cheering up from the sideline and standing next to him.

It'a also not all rose tinted glasses and you may want to curse some side characters. But it will come to the HEA they deserve.

This book will give you a book hangover and I do hope there will be a book for someone I really didn't like at first.

521 reviews15 followers
February 7, 2023
What can I say! I was sucked in from the beginning! Silas is in trouble for his last assignment. He wants another chance. Demetri is one heck of a tough boss, but finally gives in. He tells Silas he must not mess up this time and do his job. Guarding Gideon is his next mission. He does all his research on Gideon to get familiar with him. Gideon works at a deli barely getting by. He’s behind on bills and lives above a bar. He’s also had a rough go at life. When Silas meets him at the deli, Gideon wonders who he is since he’s never seen him before. Could this be the beginning of something? Silas knows he has a job to do, but at what lengths will he go? Will feelings emerge and put his job in jeopardy? When Gideon’s living arrangement turns into unsafe conditions, how will Silas react? Will this bring the two closer together? Demetri is really keeping his eye on Silas, but it seems like he may be catching onto something happening between Silas and Gideon. Can this spell disaster? If Silas is pulled from this assignment, what will happen in the end? Wait til you find out. In my opinion, Gideon and Silas deserve all the happiness in the world. Silas definitely has a way to make Gideon feel like he doesn’t need to be guarded all the time and just be himself.
157 reviews4 followers
January 25, 2023
This is a slow burn, but worth the wait. Silas has been given another chance at being a guardian but is already messing it up. Grab a tissue to get through the last couple of chapters. Not a spoiler….it is an HEA. Hopefully there will be another book or two with a couple of the side characters. I have mine in mind, do you?
3,613 reviews38 followers
February 3, 2023
I never thought of an angel being a bully but I saw it here.

I know the foster system is in disarray, but I'm sure lots of people who work in it are doing the best they can.

Unfortunately for Silas and Gideon, they both have issues to deal with outside their control.

All Gideon needs is a chance, a helping hand, and someone who believes in him.

Will Demetri give Silas the opportunity and time to be the one who can do both?

You'll have to read this and see. Prepare for some angst, some love and comfort, and some love!

A beautiful story with some wonderful characters.

Exactly what you would expect from a book by Brittany.
450 reviews1 follower
February 2, 2023
I am completely and unequivocally attached to this book! It's been awhile since I've read from this author and now I wonder why that is! The storyline was a little slow & almost cheesy in the very beginning but then my heart broke & healed with the characters every step of their story! Watching Silas & Gideon get their forever was epic!
443 reviews6 followers
February 6, 2023
2.5

Enjoyed the author's writing style as usual but unfortunately this one didn't really work for me. I liked Gideon and Silas.

Would have enjoyed more if:

- Gideon was a bit stronger - his backstory was sad, he let people walk all over him without any fight, he was the bottom yada yada. As likeable as he was he didn't bring much to the table.
- We had more details of them reconnecting - The ending felt rushed.

I Would read more if the author continues with the series especially if it regards Dimitri - I was intrigued by the small snippet of his past that he explained to Silas.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
1,970 reviews10 followers
January 30, 2023
This is such a heartwarming story. I just could not put it down and finished it in one sitting. Silas and Gideon were perfect for one another. I received an ARC of this story and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
700 reviews19 followers
October 7, 2023
Guarding Gideon by Brittany Cournoyer is a hurt/comfort story at its best. Silas is a guardian angel who didn’t do what his boss, Dimitri, thought he should do on his last assignment so he was given one more chance before losing his status and having to take a desk job. He has to follow all the rules and help Gideon, one of the saddest men I have ever read about. He had a horrible childhood as a foster child and couldn’t seem to ever catch a break. He was living in a hovel above a bar but he at least had a job at a deli that he worked hard at but wasn’t making much money. He had little self-worth but he did keep trying. It was Silas’s job to help him out by giving him opportunities to build himself up and finally realize that he was worthy of good things happening to him. It started out well with them meeting and a chance happening that led Gideon to staying with Silas. Their friendship continued but also grew into more and this was a double-edged sword because while Silas was happy, Demetri would be livid if he knew what was happening and would pull him from being Gideon’s guardian. Silas just had to figure out if it would be worth it to continue because once he left, Gideon’s memory would be wiped clean of the time they spent together, but he would always remember. I really enjoyed this book. Ms. Cournoyer wrote wonderful characters in Silas and Gideon and you could feel the emotions they were going through. There was so much sadness in Gideon’s life that it was heart rendering and to see him slowly make a turn-around was beautiful because he deserved a better life. The writing was so detailed that you really understood what they were going through in both the desperate and good times and what it meant when Demetri kept making an appearance. The ending was wonderful because you didn’t know what was going to happen after Silas made his decision and I signed with happiness when I read it because both characters got what they deserved. I highly recommend this book if hurt/comfort stories are one of your favorites because this one hits all the highs and lows of that genre.
Profile Image for Sophie Reads Stories.
287 reviews
February 6, 2023
I was hooked from the first chapter: Silas is a guardian angel who is bullied at work by his boss Demetri, who finds fault with everything Silas does.He messed up (according to Demetri) with his last assignment and needs to make good on his next one – Guarding Gideon and ensuring that his streak of bad luck and bad situations changes. Gideon is the poster child for "if he didn’t have bad luck, he’d have no luck at all" since he was a young teen, and his life is very slowly going on a downward spiral that he is simply unable to change with the support available.

Silas knows it will be an easy thing for him to do, but he did not factor in that he would be instantly attracted to Gideon. or that Gideon would return the charm.

What starts as a fairly straightforward "let's get Gideon on his feet" soon changes when Silas realises just how badly Gideon needs help and how little support he has available.

It is a slow-burn love story, which I really appreciated as I hate books that infer or outright show that someone’s love will simply fix all your problems. That’s unrealistic and problematic. So I was relieved that Silas never takes over Gideon's life or solves his problems with a snap of his fingers (as Demetris repeatedly suggests), but rather provides Gideon with the safety and security of a safe place to live as well as his friendship, which allows him to see himself in a new, more confident light and work towards his own salvation.

The final few chapters, when Demetris has had enough of Silas and steps in, will have you worried about Gideon and Silas’ HEA, but they do get the future they both so richly deserve.

Surprisingly, Demetris’ final appearance also makes me very curious as to what happened in his past and I am hoping that he will get his own book and HEA too.
Profile Image for Jenn ReadsBooks.
311 reviews18 followers
February 10, 2023
After “Play With Me”, I was an instant Brittany Cournoyer fan. Gideon has been low for his entire life. He’s been in foster care, on the streets, on the couches of acquaintances, in shelters and in dingy apartments. He’s never felt like he truly belongs anywhere and the one time he thought he’d found love, his boyfriend was cheating on him with someone else - which he found out when the new boyfriend came by to bring sweet Gideon even lower. The worst part is that Gideon doesn’t expect anything else. He expects the worst because he’s never had any reason to expect better. He goes to work at the deli - where he’s actually very good at his job. He goes home to his tiny, crappy apartment, watches his favourite movie and wishes that it doesn’t get any worse.

Until Silas. Silas is a guardian angel on his last strike. He needs to improve Gideon’s life, help him see the joy that can exist if he opens his heart a little bit. What neither man nor angel expect is to feel such a deep connection that it will lose Silas his job while bringing Gideon a new home, the confidence to move into a better position at the deli and, once Silas’ boss stops being a total jerk, the love of his life.

This story was short, sweet, emotional (I cried like a baby at Gideon’s belief that he was so wholly unwanted that a broken glass makes him think he needs to leave) and PNR-adjacent. I loved it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and, as always, my review is honest and unpaid.
Guarding Gideon
Brittany Cournoyer
Profile Image for Xanthe.
2,574 reviews51 followers
February 6, 2023
This is such a sweet, slow burn romance between a guardian angel and his assigned person.
Silas is sent to help Gideon out, a young man extremely down on his luck and seemingly had no positivity throughout his life. He's all about giving a lending hand and pushing Gideon up, trying to give him self confidence and worth which was pretty much at rock bottom.
Gideon's character broke my heart with how little kindness he's experienced in his life. He's shocked with how friendly Silas is and how much he helps him out. It's lovely to read as he slowly takes on the kind things Silas says about him, learning to trust in himself more as well as Silas.
It's a very slow burn romance with the forbidden nature of anything between a guardian and his charge. The draw between them feels natural and I like how things progressed between them. The ending was even very low angst, giving both men what they wanted with Gideon standing on his own two feet.a heartwarming romance for one very down on his luck man and a guardian angel on his last chance assignment before being moved to desk work.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
Profile Image for Debby.
1,778 reviews63 followers
February 9, 2023
Silas loves being a guardian angel. Unfortunately, his last job did not go as expected and his boss, Demetri, wants to bench him. He begs for a second chance and Demetri assigns him Gideon. Gideon needs a lot of help. He had a tough childhood and now as an adult it is not much better. He is at a low point and wants to just give up. Then Silas walks into his deli with his beautiful smile and a friendship begins. Gideon feels his luck changing and is not sure he can trust that change. As the two get closer their relationship deepens into more and Silas is left having to make a decision on their future.

This is a beautiful love story. Silas comes into Gideon’s life when he is at an all time low. He lives over a bar and loses his apartment. He has lots of bills that are overdue and he has no life outside his job. Enter Silas and everything changes. It was so sweet to watch their love develop. The two are perfect for each other. Now Silas is at a crossroads. He knows he broke the rules but he could not help it. How does all this turn out? Pick this one up to find out. You will be glad you did.
406 reviews6 followers
February 5, 2023
This is a really sweet love story. Gideon is barely getting by with his job and living in a cruddy apartment above a pub. He just can't seem to catch a break no matter how hard he tries. Silas is a guardian angel who has a history of using unorthodox ways to help his "clients" which has put him on thin ice with his boss. He begs for another assignment and is given Gideon. Silas sets up ways to run into Gideon and gain his trust. He ends of having Gideon stay with him after he is injured changing Silas' light bulb. They soon become closer and even though Silas knows it is against the rules he starts to fall in love with Gideon and their relationship becomes more physical. His boss finds out and he takes Silas back to their headquarters and assigns Gideon to another guardian angel. How will Silas and Gideon have their happily ever after? I really liked this book but felt that the ending was a bit abrupt. I would have liked to see them become reacquainted and progress from there. However, overall, this is a really enjoyable read.
1,986 reviews7 followers
February 11, 2023
Lovely guardian angel story

This was a slow burn, charming story with a guardian angel on his last chance, assigned to a man scarred by his experiences, beaten down with no way up.
I loved Silas and his feisty attitude to his nasty boss, as well as his angelic beaming smile that lit up Gideon's world. We got glimpses of Gideon's life, enough to know that he has been ground down by people, the system, just about everything and everyone his whole life, who doesn't expect good things anytime soon then Silas comes into his life and turns it around.
I would have loved this more if Gideon wasn't quite so cowed at every turn. I understand his life has been awful and his expectations are non-existent but I look at the gorgeous man on the cover and that's who I was imagining as I was reading. That man looks strong and confident and doesn't fit the Gideon Brittany has created.
I also found the ending a bit rushed. It was okay but I would have loved to see them a few years down the line, happy and settled (and to find out if Silas ever told Gideon his secret).
Profile Image for Ida Umphers.
5,678 reviews48 followers
February 10, 2023
Silas and Gideon are two characters who are both in search of something and come to find that in each other. Silas needs a second chance at being a guardian angel after a job goes awry and Gideon has had a life where nothing has gone right for him despite his best efforts and he's reached the end of his rope. When Silas is sent to watch over him as his redemption assignment these two discover what they really need is first, a friendship with all the support and love than involves. That friendship develops into love and they have to make choices about following all the rules or staying together. It is a lovely romance, so we know they'll get their HEA but nothing feels contrived or stereotypical about the ending as Cournoyer has created two characters we care deeply about and root for all the way.
Profile Image for Nina Diab.
5,387 reviews50 followers
February 17, 2023
I loved this book. It was a such a sweet romance. I've only encountered a guardian angel romance once or twice, so this was a fun new read for me. I really loved both Silas and Gideon. Silas was a guardian angel who wasn't doing the best job at Helping Halos (I love the name!) and pleaded for just one more chance. Gideon Prestley- a man struggling and with a string of horrible luck- was is last chance at redemption. Gideon won my heart pretty immediately and I was completely hooked to see how Silas would help him and how they would fall in love.

"What was that cliché? Two ships passing in the night?
That was what he and I were, but where he was a grand yacht, I was a fucking tugboat."

A beautiful read. 5 stars
Profile Image for K-Me.
2,996 reviews
February 6, 2023
This book was a surprise gem for me! I went in thinking I was going to read a bodyguard book, but that is not what this is. This is a Guardian Angel story, and it is so heartbreaking, heartwarming and just all the emotions. Gideon has had a hard time of things and he is genuinely sad and feeling defeated. Silas is on his last chance as a Guardian, so I was so nervous for his happing ending too! I was so invested in both of these men finding happiness together I could not stop reading. It is a beautiful slow burn seeing Gideon learn to trust and thrive with Silas. I really hope there are going to be more romances in this world too.
800 reviews7 followers
February 6, 2023
4.25 Stars!

This story was an enjoyable read. Be prepared, it pulled a few tears from me at a certain point. I like Silas and definitely wanted Gideon to get to a better place. It would have been interesting to know how the plan was supposed to go, but I think Silas did exactly as any good angel would have in the situations that Gideon kept landing in.

I really didn't like Silas's boss for most of the book, but I was more willing to give him a second chance towards the end when he was more open to discussing things. I'm glad that Silas and Gideon were able to work past their separation.
5,024 reviews19 followers
February 11, 2023
Choices, choices! Silas, is a guardian angel who is dedicated to his craft. His last job didn't end as expected and he begged his boss, Demetri for a second chance. He was assigned Gideon and life became complicated. When Gideon meets Silas, he feels his life of continuous constant bad luck, is over. Things are looking up. Silas and Gideon, catch feels for each other. A relatinship is totally against the rules. Can the rules change? Will Silas lose his beloved job? Will Gideon's life improve? Great story, keeps you happily on the edge of your seat. Well done! I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.
2,063 reviews25 followers
February 10, 2023
A slow-built relationship between Gideon and Silas. Gideon is down on his luck after he is kicked out of his home and relationship. He is working at a job that barely pays his expenses and living in deplorable conditions. Silas is his guardian and is supposed to lead him in the right direction to get his life back on track. Silas does more than his job requires when it comes to Gideon. They start a relationship even though it's forbidden and Silas is forced to give him up. The book is sweet, and romantic, with a lot of angst, and I enjoyed it from start to finish.
Profile Image for Maitana C.
320 reviews2 followers
February 10, 2023
This was the first book I’ve read by this author, and I enjoyed the story.

I really liked the concept of guardian Angel trying to redeem himself from a past failure and a human who has really bad luck and a whole lot of trauma. The story is hurt/comfort and moved along fairly quickly.

I think Gideon and Silas were great together and they were great characters, I just had a hard time loving the book as much as I was hoping to. The end especially did not click with me and I wish it was a little bit longer.

Overall it was good, 3/5 ✨
Profile Image for Lissa.
549 reviews3 followers
February 5, 2023
A beautiful love story of a guardian angel who is given one last chance at an assignment. Silas is assigned to watch over Gideon, but as he watches him grow his feelings change. Gideon had a difficult life, but meeting Silas changes all that and things are looking up. Neither of them expected to fall in love and what that means for the future. I really enjoyed this story and Watchung the characters grow. Would love to see a follow up and learn more about Demetri's past love.
1,494 reviews8 followers
February 5, 2023
If you are looking for a story that will make you shed a few tears, laugh, and have all the feels, this is it.
Silas is on the edge with his boss after the last assignment did not go the way his boss wanted so Gideon is his last chance. What Silas doesn't expect is to fall in love with this absolutely sweet but been through so much man. You will be cheering for Gideon to get everything he wants cause he deserves so much more than what life has given him.
1,006 reviews3 followers
February 11, 2023
I didn’t love this book. Gideon is just such a sad sack, it’s hard to think of him as sexy. The story is kind of a slow burn and Silas goes from his savior to his lover a little abruptly, I didn’t feel like there was enough passion in the build up, so when they finally got together it was a little meh. I was expecting how the ending played out, and was glad it was happy, but I closed the book feeling a bit unfulfilled. Bummer, I thought the premise sounded so intriguing!
Profile Image for Raven and Chris.
3,425 reviews32 followers
February 8, 2023
I liked the characters Gideon and Silas. The trope is an old one but a good one: a guardian Angel falling in love with his charge. I had a problem or two with this story but those were my own. They all revolve around Silas’s boss Demitri and his gaslighting ways. It has a good HEA and is worth a read.
1,651 reviews12 followers
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February 9, 2023
The blurb is really good at telling you the storyline for this book. The main characters, Silas and Gideon, who can't resist each other are very well written. The secondary characters all play their part in building this story. True soul mates are so romantic. I loved it! I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
17k reviews170 followers
February 9, 2023
He is about to be given a second chance when he makes a mistake. He is a guardian angle and his second chance is about to become more complicated. Their luck is nowhere but once they meet him it all starts to change. What if they fall in love? Will he break all the rules? Will he break both of their hearts? See just what is going to happen for them both
Profile Image for Shy Shy.
87 reviews1 follower
February 11, 2023
This story was super sweet, heartwarming and wholesome. Poor Gideon has terrible luck and a pretty underwhelming life, Silas is tasked to be his guardian angel and along the way they fall in love. This was a quick read! I cried but I also smiled and fell in love with the characters as they fell in love with each other. 5 stars!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews