Five years ago, Secret Service Agent Gideon James took a bullet to protect me.
It haunts me every single day.
As the president’s daughter, my life has never truly been my own. But when a traitor in my security detail tries to kidnap me, Mom sends me to Montana—to the one man who’s never failed to keep me safe.
These days, Gideon runs an elite security training facility on his family ranch. He’s not exactly thrilled to see me, and his family trusts me even less. But during our intense self-defense sessions, something electric ignites between us. Those steel-gray eyes see past my title to who I really am. For the first time, I’m discovering my own strength—and a desire I can’t deny.
Just as I’m falling hard, betrayal strikes again, threatening everything Gideon and I have built. Now I must choose between protecting my heart and fighting for the man who’s always protected me—and the only place I’ve ever truly belonged.
(ARC Read)
This age gap, bodyguard romance absolutely hit for me.
Gideon James, the ultimate definition of protective. Former Secret Service agent, now running his security training facility on his family’s ranch, and still carrying the weight of his past, especially the moment that ended his career. He’s controlled, a little grumpy, and he keeps people at arm’s length…until Lena walks back into his life.
“I want you here. You’re staying because that’s what I want. I’m not going to ask for you to be reassigned because I’m what’s best for you right now. I’ve got you here with me for safe keeping.”
I loved Lena. She’s lived her entire life as the president’s daughter, constantly watched, controlled, and never really allowed to just be. Beneath all of that, she’s creative, thoughtful, and still carrying so much guilty over what happened to Gideon years ago. As their story progresses, you see watch her step into her own strength, especially through the training and through her art, and that was probably one of my favorite parts of the book (other than the spice, of course).
Bringing them back together on a covert operation to keep the first daughter safe, you could feel how immediate the tension was. He remembers her as a reckless, frustrating teenager who turned his job upside down, and now he finds her as a woman he cannot ignore. She remembers him as the man who always made her feel safe. And now they’re thrown into forced proximity on his secluded Montana ranch, trying to ignore a connection that’s very much still there.
“Are you getting sick or something, rebel?”
“No, I have a sexy man pressed against me. It’s a physical response.”
He stills, and then mutters, “That fucking mouth.”
The forced proximity on his Montana ranch was so well done. Isolated setting, high stakes, nowhere to hide from each other? Yes, please. Their connection builds in a way that feels natural, first rooted in trust, then slowly tipping into something more. They don’t just want each other… they understand each other.
Gideon is peak protective hero energy. He would absolutely burn the world down for her, but what I loved most is that he doesn’t just shield Lena, he pushes her to be stronger. The training scenes were some of my favorites because you can see her confidence grow, and he’s right there, steady and supportive without taking over her agency. And Lena gives him something he’s been missing too—peace, connection, and someone who sees past all his walls.
“You make me lose control. And I never lose fucking control, Lena.”
And Lena really shines in this. She’s not just “the president’s daughter.” She’s a woman who’s been controlled her entire life, finally figuring out what she wants, including her art, her independence, her voice. Watching her step into that was just as satisfying as the romance.
Their chemistry? So good. The banter is easy, the tension builds steadily, and when they finally give in, it feels earned. Gideon has that bossy, take-charge energy, but it’s balanced with genuine care and emotional depth, which made their relationship feel solid beyond just the attraction.
“There is no other choice for me, Rebel. Just you. Always you.”
The side relationships, especially the evolution between Lena and Willow, added another layer to the story and made everything feel more grounded and real. Willow loves Gideon fiercely as a brother and must overcome her own feelings of betrayal and anger towards Lena before they can move forward. And they need to. Because both of these women love Gideon unconditionally.
The danger element and romantic suspense in this story keeps things moving, but it never overshadows the emotional core of the story. And when the twists hit, they actually land.
Overall, this is one of those stories where the romance, character growth, and setting all come together in a really satisfying way. Protective hero, emotional healing, small-town vibes, and a relationship built on trust? It worked for me from start to finish.
Release Date: April 28th, 2026
Thank you to Kristen Proby for the ARC read!