When I left the Army, I didn’t just lose my teammate, I lost my best friend.
And even though he never came out and said it, I knew I was the one he blamed.
Did we still talk? Sure. Monthly texts about nothing and empty promises of visits that never panned out. But losing Hawk—the man I admired most in the world, the man I secretly loved—felt like losing a piece of myself.
When he showed up unexpectedly to help our team with security for an event, I was surprised. Hurt that he never told me he was coming. But deep down I still hoped we could find some remnant of the friendship we used to have.
But of all the things I imagined from his visit, nearly being killed right in front of him wasn’t one of them. And as I opened my eyes to find a terrified Hawk kneeling over me, I couldn’t help but wonder if he felt some fraction of what I did for him.
Seeing Rhiannon lying on the ground, bruised and bloody, threw everything into terrifying perspective.
I failed her once already. There’s no way I’ll allow it to happen again.
After all, we used to be teammates. More than that. She was my best friend. I was supposed to always have her six. I thought I did up until the night she told the us the terrible truth—that she’d been harassed and threatened by our superior for years. And she never told us until it got so bad she was forced to leave the Army.
I should have seen how she was suffering. I should have protected her. Then again, Rhiannon never wanted to be protected. As one of the first female Green Berets, she wanted to prove herself. Stand on her own.
But even the strongest people need help sometimes. And this time, I’m not going anywhere. Because I’ll do anything to protect the woman I love.
Guarded from Retribution is a friends-to-lovers romance with a brave and intelligent heroine, a protective hero, action and danger, emotional wounds and angst, and plenty of sweet and steamy moments. No cliffhangers and a happily-ever-after guaranteed! (Can be read as a standalone!)
Review by Twinsie Melinda
I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review.
I have only read 2 of the books in this series but I am all in on wanting to know more about the Blade and Arrow Security Bravo Team. I enjoyed reading Rhiannon and Hawk’s story.
Hawk and Rhiannon were best friends while in the Green Berets. Rhi held a secret to protect her team. When she left the Green Beret and the team learned of her secret Hawk took it had and personal thinking, he let her down. Although they stayed friends and texted after leaving the team it was never the same. Rhi is now a member of the B&A Bravo Team with a few of her teammates from the Army. She is thriving and has a new purpose with her new team.
Hawk still has a place in his heart for Rhi but he pulls away from her moving all the way to Alaska. However, he is in town to help the Bravo Team with security for an event. When Rhi gets injured, he feels guilt over not being able to help her again and cannot walk away a second time. He is determined to be there for her and take care of her.
This was a roller-coaster of emotions with Rhi and Hawk trying to work through their feelings and regrets. The way Hawk is there for her now determined to keep her safe and working through his issues makes me love him. I absolutely love how strong but vulnerable Rhi is. To watch them finally make it click and see the fireworks fly was great. I do have to say I also love all the side characters in this series. These can be read as standalones as I have only read book 4 and 5 I cannot wait to go back and read the first 3 books because I have fallen for this entire team.
Gia Cobie is an award winning author living in upstate New York with her husband and small zoo of animals. She loves writing about protective heroes and the strong women they fall in love with.
In her spare time (when she has any!), Gia enjoys reading and spending time in the Adirondacks, and also has a weakness for reality romance shows, wine, and buying way too many books!
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